"UhQ Relly Clan 









Published by 



RicHmond Kelly, M. D. 



Portland, Oregon, 
lOOl. 



M 



■'V 



.^ 



}y^'ik. 



v-^ ; • 



"Uhe Relly Clan 



PrBLISHED BY 



R.ICHMOND KELLY, M. D. 



He setteth the solitary in families. 

Psalm Ixviii : 6. 



Portland, Oregon, 
1901. 



^ 



^A 



\ 











TO 


THE MEMORY 

OF 








NANCY 


CANADA KELLY 






Whose 


virtues have shone through passing years with ever- 


increasing lustre, and 


whose good deeds we would 


strive 


to 


imitate 


this token is 


ovingly inscribed by 

The Pilg 


rims. 





CONTENTS. 



Page 

Chapter I. Tradition and Incident - - ... n 

II. Samuel Kelly - 15 

III. A Kentucky Lass ------ 18 

IV. On Clifty Creek ------ 21 

V. Clinton Kelly ------- 24 

VI. Life in Kentucky ------ 28 

VII. The Westward Journey ----- 34 

VIII. Clinton Kelly's Descendants . - - 42 

IX. A Family of Preachers ----- 48 

The Tolling of the Bells - - . . 60 

X. Other Kellys ------- 62 

XI. Uncle Thomas' Story ----- 69 

Addenda --.--^y 



INTRODUCTION 



The facts and incidents herein recorded concerning the 
family of Tliomas Kell\', whose ancestors hved in Ireland 
but was himself born near Philadelphia about the middle 
of the eighteenth century, were gathered at different times 
and places; and. while meager enough as to matter and 
detail, will yet prove of value to all his posterity who may 
care to follow the slender thread of narrative, so often 
broken off, that has been traced with such loving interest 
by the descendants of the fourth generation. 

It is hoped this unpretentious little story will Ije a step 
toward the discovery of other links that will enable the 
familv to learn more of their history, as well as lead to 
the preservation of facts regarding future generations. 

At first sight this might seem to be a somewhat selfish 
motive: but as a worthy life inspires to emulation, and 
the famil\- bond is a stimulus to the welfare of each and 
so promotes the common good, the venture can scarcely 
be other than profitable. Coming in contact with the men 
and women of these pages one grows to feel something of 
their spirit, and a desire to rise to the high plane attained 
by them through difficulties of whose magnitude we can 
have little conception. 

Much more might have been written, but there is enough 
to illustrate the character of many of those who have 
stepped from this stage of action; as to the rest, merely 
name and residence has been given, as far as ascertained; 
which will serve as a directory should they vvish to com- 
municate with each other. 

The statement of W. B. Godbey that his maternal ances- 
tors were Catholics is not received bv the oldest relatives on 



the Pacific Coast; and the fact that, so far as known, none 
of the descendants have been adherents of that faith, casts a 
strong' doubt as to the correctness of the statement. 

A man now Hving in Portland, Oregon, was at one time 
employed for five years in tracing the lineage of a family 
in Ireland bv the name of Kelly. Having been acquainted 
w ith the Kellys of the old country, and knowing something 
of the family trails of these, he gives it as his opinion that 
both belong to the same line. 

The name of General Canada is given in the narrative as 
it was ])r()n()unced by Clinton Kellw though some of the 
descendants call it ■"Kennedy"; which orthography is cor- 
rect is a nut for the coming generation to crack. 

LAURA KELLY TURNER. 




Dead, did you say? Not dead, but gone before. 
Whence they, with vision clear, immortal, 

Their earthly toil and tribulation o'er — 

Are watching for us by the heavenly portal. 

With calm, unruffled souls they watch and wait, 
From those elysian heights serene, supernal, 

Not doubting that some day, or soon or late. 
Will triumph over all the Love Eternal ; 

And they who walk by darksome ways and long, 

Erstwhile by doubt and shadow holden. 
Will yet break forth in sun-lit joy and song. 

Their souls safe anchored in the city golden. 

L. K. r. 




CHAPTER I 



Tradition and Incident. 



".-/ man is a man for a' that/'' 



■ Burns. 




TORIES have not been lacking concerning 
Tlionias Kelly's origin, some of which are 
p-iven, and mav be taken for what they are 
considered worth. 

Two boys were playing on the shore of 
Ireland. A ship captain, passing that way, told them he 
would show them how to play "ho-boy." They followed 
him on board a ship, were taken to America and put in the 
fields to hoe corn. Not relishing this practical application 
of the term "hoe-boy,'' one of the youngsters ran away 
and got back to Ireland; the other remained and became 
the ancestor of the above-mentioned Thomas Kelly. 

Rev. W. B. Godbey, of Perryville, Kentucky, of whom 
mention is made later on, in his book "Spiritual GJfts and 
Graces," savs: "My maternal ancestors were O'Kellys in 
Ireland and Kellys in this country. They migrated to 
America and settled in Pulaski County, Kentucky, con- 
temporarv with the exploration of Daniel IJoone." He 
then proceeds to tell of the death of their babe and their 
great distress at the thought of its soul being in purgatory. 
Unable to obtain the services of a priest, they sent for a 
circuit-rider then traveling through the country, who was 
represented as something like a priest; he administered such 
consolation in their trouble that they became converts to 
Protestantism. 



12 THE KELLY CLAN. 



The following account of Thomas Kelly was obtained 
from Clinton and Gilmore Kelly, his grandsons; and not- 
withstanding its seeming confliction, in minor details, with 
others current, is doubtless the most nearly correct: 

Thomas Kelly was born near Philadelphia, Pa., about 
the year 1750. When a young man, despite the earnest 
entreaties of his mother — thrusting his fingers in his ears 
to shut out her |)leadings — he left home to avoid being im- 
pressed into the British army, and made his way to \'ir- 
ginia. Soon after arriving in that state he enlisted and was 
sent to the frontier to fight Indians; later he had com- 
mand of a military post in that wild region. The next we 
hear of him he is married and settled on a farm in Bote- 
tourt County, X'irginia. His wife was Peggy Biles, a young 
woman whose sweet voice had won for her quite a reputa- 
tion as a singer; she afterward became a doctor for women, 
and was widely known for her helpfulness in sickness and 
distress. She is said to have left her impression upon suc- 
ceeding generations. 

PTom Botetourt, Thomas Kelly removed to Greenbrier 
County; subsequent!} leaving Virginia, about 1800, with 
a large family, intending to go to the then far West, Illi- 
nois; but falling in with General Canada, who persuaded 
him, on account of the unhealthy climate of diat state, to 
abandon his journey, he turned aside into Lincoln County, 
Ky.; afterward going to Pulaski County, where he and his 
sons settled on adjoining lands near Somerset. He passed 
into the unsec-n from the home of his son Sanuiel. on Cliftv 
Creek, a few years after;- his wife followed him in the 
year 1814. 

Xaiurr plans on a great scale in Kentuckv; her trees 
and her men linver tow'ard the skies. On one of the wind- 
blown kn(jl)s of Pidaski Comity, within a mile of Mount 
(iilead Church, imder some sjireading giants of the forest. 
were laid these two — Thomas Kelly and Peggy Biles. hi> 
wife. 

Ill the year 1 SSj iwd ])ilgriin> ironi ( )regon paid homage 



. TRADITION AND INCIDENT. 13 

at the shrine of the Kelly home ; they visited the spot made 
sacred by the burial of their great-grandparents, and piled 
a heap of stones upon the lonely graves. The lands had 
passed into stranger hands, and the mighty denizens of the 
forest were being laid low; doubtless, ere this, all trace of 
their resting place has been obliterated, but that hallowed 
spot is ever under the eye that never sleeps. 

Thomas Kelly had nine children: James, John, Samuel, 
Isaac, Elias, Abijah, Molly, Leah and Rachel. For a time 
they lingered near the burial place of their parents; then 
the spirit of unrest seems to have possessed them. 

James removed to Indiana, but returned to end his days 
in Kentucky. His offspring were James S.. a teacher and 
preacher in Somerset; Alfred, a physician; John, and a 
daughter who married James Kelsay and became the 
mother of Judge Kelsay, formerly of Corvallis, Oregon. 
Judge Kelsay, deceased, had one son and one daughter. 
The son enlisted in the Second Oregon Volunteers, and 
gave up liis life in the Philippines; the daughter lives in 
California. 

Alfred was an odd character; many were the stories told 
of his hairbreadth escapes on account of the outspoken 
abolition sentiments which he held in conunon with his 
kindred. The fingers of his left hand were webbed to the 
second joint. 

The descendants of James Kellv settled in Indiana. 

^ * ;1; ^; -^ 

John Kelly had three sons and five daughters: John H., 
Oliver P., William B., and Orpha — the only daughter of 
whom we have an account — who married Rev. John God- 
bey. 

Rev. William B. Godbey, of Perryville, Kv., is a son of 
Orpha Kelly. He has traveled extensively and written 
many books. He is the author of a commentary on tlie 
Xew Testament, written in the Holy Land, and is a thor- 
ough Greek scholar. He has one son and a son-in-law in 



14 



THE KELLY CLAN. 



ilie Kentucky conference. Owing to his protracted studies, 
Mr. Godbey's sight has been greatly impaired. Last win- 
ter while in hVesno. California, a serious accident neari\- 
cost him his life. Going to his room at a late hour, he, as 
he supposed, turned off the gas. It proved otherwise, for 
he was found the next morning apparently dead, a narrow- 
opening in ihe window l>cing the only thing that saved him. 
He is now at his home in I'erryville, l)ut is contemplating 
a trip around tlic world. 





CHAPTER II 



Samuel Kelly. 



^^ Little you knoic /lozu dear the name Kelly is to your old uncle.'' 

— Hardin Newell. 



AM I' EL, third son of Thonias Kelly and 
Peggy Biles, was born in Botetourt County, 
Virginia, February 7, 1776. He was joined 
in marriage to Xancy Canada September 3. 
1807, and together they began life on Clifty 
Creek, seven miles northwest of Somerset, the county seat 
of Pulaski County. This creek afforded fine facilities for 
manufacture, of which Mr. Kelly was not slow to take 
advantage. He erected mills and manufactured flour, salt- 
petre, epsom salts, turpentine, linseed-oil and gunpowder. 
Says Solomon Newell: "In the process of working up the 
flaxseed, everything about the house and barn, in fact, the 
whole farm, smelled of linseed-oil." 

Frecpient excursions into the woods and caves of Ken- 
tucky in search of crude saltpetre kept him nuich from 
home and left the management of afifairs to his wife and 
growing sons. 

It was his custom to go alone upon these journeys, and 
he became the subject of strange adventures. 

One evening he was cooking his supper of bacon at the 
mouth of a cave in one of these lonely wilds. Hearing a 
crackling in the brush he watched and soon a bear emerged 
from the darkness and approached the campfire, 

"Hold on, there; vou can't come an\- nearer!" and seiz- 



1 6 THE KELLY CLAN. 



ing a blazing stick he luirlctl it at tlie beast. If liglned on 
his back and set fire to liis hair. Tlie bear bounded off 
with a growl and disappeared over a cliff 300 yards awav, 
the hair still blazing. 

Three-quarters ot a century later Henry I laugh, a resi- 
dent of Pulaski, pointed out a cave where the prim of 
Samuel Kelly's hands and knees could be plainly seen, 
the soft uuid in uliicli they wen- embedded ha\-ing hard- 
ened through the action of lime. 

Many of these caves could cjuly be entered b\- crawling 
on all fours, widening into spacious chambers as one pro- 
ceeded, win'ch were usually the haunts of wild beasts. 

Dr. Hardin Xewell, a Ijrother-in-law of Samuel Kelly, 
gives this description of him: "Sanmel Kelly was a singular 
man, noted for his drollery, especially in dress and con- 
versation. His dress consisted of homemade clothing, and 
that of (juite a rough character: he nearly alwavs wore a 
homemade straw hat, and coarse, home-tanned and home- 
made shoes. He was not a farmer, but followed making 
nitrate of potassa. sulphur, gunpowder, and so on. He 
would frequentl}- leave home and go into Wayne County. 
a \-ery rough, mountainous county, and stav two and three 
months, working in some ca\e, making saltix'trc, and per- 
haps never see a human being in that tiuK;; if he did set- 
any i)erson it would be a backwoods hunter. That countv 
at that time was full of wild beasts." 

Sanuiel Kelly made the most of his limited opportunities 
for gaining an education: his lack of scholastic training was 
balanced by a natural abilitx and shre-wd obserxation. 

< )f hi> pr(jficiency in law and history. I )r. Xewell tells thi: 
following story: "I'\\\ nun in his day had better knowledge 
of history, lie had some business in b'rankfiirt. K\-., at a 
lime when the Legislature was in session, judg.' Tonsil 
Ouarles was the representative from Pulaski, his coimty 
I he Judge invited l\rll\ to take dinner with him at the 
hotel. Kelly sat down with hi> side to the table, his usual 
wav when at home, lie linalK' called for some milk; the 



SAMUEL KELLY. 17 



waiter came round and commenced pourinjy milk in his 
glass; Kelly said 'enough," but the waiter did not stop, and 
Kelly removed the glass and let the milk on the table. 

"After dinner some persons asked the Judge if that man 
was a fair representative of his constituents. The Judge 
said he was not, and told the gentlemen to come to his 
room that night and they would learn more about the 
awkward-looking Pulaskian. So in turn some eight or ten 
Representatives called on Judge Quarles and the droll 
Pulaskian, expecting to have a funny time; but all but fun! 
They soon found they had a man well versed in law and 
history to contend with, one that was more than a match 
for all of them. The next day they told Judge Quarles 
that Pulaski had sent the wrong man, and for him to go 
home and let Kelly take his place." 

The following incident told by his oldest son illustrates 
an intuitive perception that in those primitive times was 
easier recognized than understood: 

One day he prepared an unusually large quantity of 
annnunition, and being asked what he intended doing with 
so many bullets, replied: "The Indians are coming; they'll 
be here in twenty-four hours!" 

Sure enough, the Indians raided the settlement within 
the time specified, but through what channel he received the 
intimation was not explained. 



CHAPTER III 



A KerktucKy Lass. 




"■She riseth also 7chilc it is yet night attd givcth meat to 

her lioHschold and a povtiori to tier )iiaidens." 

— Solomon. 

ANCY CANADA was born April 7. 1786 
She was a niece of General Canada, and 
tlu- daughter of John Canada. 

In that day in Kentucky drinking was a 
Cdunnon practice, respectable ])eo])le and 
even church members indulging in tlieir daily dram. As 
mav be supposed, the habit of tippling was fretiuently car- 
ried to excess, notwithstanding the comparatively mild 
character of the home-brewed drinks. Such was the case 
in the home of John Canada, which so stirred the soul of 
the daughter Xancv that she left her father's roof when 
12 years old. and from that time was an "uncompromising 
enem\ to the use of ardent s])irits as long as she lived, and 
raised her children to abhor and denounce the ^-ame." 1 lei" 
anti])ath\' to strong drink was so thoroughly inbred in her 
descendants that seldom has one been fouii'l addicted to 
the habit. "Log-rollings," "barn-raisings" and "corn- 
huskings" were often occasions of drunkenness and fight- 
ing, as li(|uor was considered an inilispensable feature of 
the day. Xanc\- Kelly's oi:>en antagonism 10 everything 
that could iiUoxieate was so effective that li(|uors were ban- 
ished from all public gatherings in the neighborh(>od. an<i 
its residents enjo\ed the peculiar dislinciion ol" li\ing in a 
leniiieiaiice coinmunilv. 



A KENTUCKY LASS. 1 9 

She had strong rehgious tendencies and incHned to the 
Presbyterian faith. Soon after her marriage, hearing of 
some meetings held in the vicinity by a Methodist circuit- 
rider, she asked her pastor's advice as to whether she 
should attend, the Methodists being considered a set of 
fanatics. He replied: "If they are all like John Wesley, 
they are not a bad people." She went to the meetings and 
became powerfully convicted. In her own home, while 
singing the hymn, "Arise, My Soul, Arise," she appre- 
hended Christ as her Savior, and her joy was so great that 
she shouted aloud. Thenceforth her house was a house of 
prayer, and became a regular preaching place. Her con- 
version took place a few months previous to the birth of 
her eldest son. Clinton. In after years he could not speak 
of this sacred hour in his mother's life without shedding 
tears. 

She joined the Methodists, and thereafter nothing was 
too hard for her to do that promised good to the cause of 
religion. She was a woman of energy and courage, with 
a personality that impressed itself upon everv one she 
met. Hers was the ruling spirit of the household, the sugar- 
camp and the farm; in fact, of the whole community. Upon 
her sons and daughters she stamped an integrity of soul 
born of high perceptions. She became the mother of four 
itinerant preachers and a preacher's wife. 

Solomon Newell, a resident of Pulaski County, said of 
Nancy Kelly: "She had charge of the farm and garden, and 
in the Winter made immense quantities of sugar. To me 
there was no place like 'Aunt Nancy's,' because she always 
gave me sugar. Once she gave me a piece of cheese; T 
didn't like that, so I lifted a fence-rail, slipped the cheese 
under and let the rail down on top of it. 1 can see her 
now as she comes up tlie hill from the sugar-camp, her 
sunbonnet fallen back upon her shoulders, her form straight 
as a poplar. She was known far and wide for her pietv and 
benevolence. There are no more such women as .\unr 
Nancv Kellv." 



20 THE KELLY CLAN. 



We quote again from Dr. Hardin Xewell: "Xancv Kelly 
was known all over Pulaski and Wayne Counties. She 
was a most excellent midwife, frequently riding- lo and 15 
miles the coldest and darkest nights. 

"In her day physicians were scarce, and to say it all. but 
few physicians understood obstetrics better than she. I 
never knew her to charge over $1 ; that was the tee; and 
that was paid in work at 50 cents per day, or the debtor 
cut and split 200 rails. If the patient was poor and hard- 
pressed to live, she made no charge: if ;my came to her 
in want they were not turned ofi without relief. 

"Dr. Xewell continues: "Sanuiel Kelly died October 13. 
1834. He suffered with asthma most of his life, and for the 
last 10 years before his death was compelled to sit up at 
night; he finally became dropsical and I have no doubt had 
valvular disease of the heart. Tt is due his memory to say 
that he ^yas a great and good man. 

"Xancv Kelly died January 26, 1841. Their remains lie 
at Mount Zion, and will come forth at the last day clothed 
in white and have part in the first resurrection. 

"The most of the Kelly peoijle were money-makers, bm 
few of them, however, were money-savers. This was espc- 
ciallv true of Sanuiel Kelly. In his day and lime we han- 
dled hut little money: he managed to make some money, 
l)Ut made bad investments, paid many securities, etc. 

"Their fannh of children and grandchildren have been 
>hort!ived: many of them have gone to the spirit land."" 



CHAPTER IV. 



On Clifty CreeR. 




" ll'e will sing one song of the old Kentucky home, 
Of the old Kentucky home far away/' 



X the year 1882. drawn by a tender desire :o 
visit the place hallowed by association and 
to tread the soil once trodden h\ kindred 
feet that have long- since crossed the swell- 
ings of Jordan, Dr. Richmond Kelly, then a 

student of Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, whose home 

was in Portland, Or., and his sister, Laura Kelly Turner. 

made loving- pilgrimage to "Old Kentucky." ( )f sights 

and scenes on Clifty Creek they write: 

"We have seen Grandfather Kelly's house, the site of the 
old powder and oilmill, and that of the gristmill. The sills 
of the latter are still seen, as they were placed \)\ his owi; 
hands, looking perfectly sound: the reason for this is tnai 
they are always under water. 

"The house is in good condition; it was built after most 
of his children were born : the historical 'balm-of-'Gilead' 
tree is gone. The house is of hewn logs, weather- 
boarded, and at some past age painted white; inside it is 
chinked with stones and 'pointed' with lime, which gives it 
a pretty fair appearance. It was a good house in its day. 

"The sitting-room is partly ceiled. The door leading to 
the bed-room wears the same coat of red paint applied by 
grandfather's own hands. Two rooms above and two be- 
low were the original dwelling: the old cabin where the 



22 THE KELLY CLAN. 

children were born — later used as l<itchen and sleepin}:^:- 
room — was long^ since torn down: the present extension in 
the rear was put up Ijv L'ncle Har(hn Xewell. 

"The stairs are steep and narrow ; up stairs they used to 
hold religious services before Mdunt Zion Church \ias built. 
Outside, ti) the left, still stand the limber-twi.Li: apple trees, 
planted long- ago. Going down the hill, past other an- 
cient apple trees, we are in a jjretty grove of spruce and 
balm-of-Gilead trees, planted 1)\ L'ncle Thomas. Here, in 
a cool dell in the side of the hill, walled with stones, is the 
spring from the bed of which the famous bluestone was 
taken that furnished the boys of generations ago with slate 
pencils. 

"The springhouse is nearly as grandfather left it, the 
litde stream that trickles from it gathering force as it hur- 
ries away to the blufif. whence it tumbles, a beautiful cas- 
cade, into Cliffy Creek. 50 feet below. 

"We wandered along the bank of the creek, a bold, dash- 
ing stream, where our father and uncles i)layed — if ever 
they had time to play; saw where grandfather had toiled 
with his clumsy tools to hew. in the solid stone, a founda- 
tion for his tim1)ers. and climbed the steep ascent — pulling 
ourselves up by the bushes on either hand — up which his 
feet had so often toiled going home to dinner There was 
an easier way. but we preferred this as the one he most 
often used. 

"Solomon Xewell, our guide of J2 years, told of coming- 
there to n-iill when a l)o\. '.Mr. Kelly was not r.l the house.' 
said he. 'but soon a w heezy cough was heard, such as always 
preceded his a])])roach. C'oming in, he said to me: "Well, 
sir: wlurc did von come from?" "Came hoxu home: mv 
fathc'r sent mc." "()h! I didn't know Imt \ on came down 
fr< ini \]\v c]( )uds." 

"He suffered nuuli from asthma, and I'^ncle Solomon 
said the mu'st'S were obliged some times to leave the room: 
lhe\ could not bear tlie sight of snt'ferings llie\ were power- 
less to relieve. 



ON CLIFTY CRKEK. 23 

"When at last lie knew the end was near, he asked to be 
left alone; so. like Moses, unseen by human eye, he faced 
his last mortal enemy. He was not accustomed to talk 
much of his inner life, but he was one of God's men. 

"The arm-chair he used so long, and from which his 
spirit passed away, is in the possession of rncle Hardin 
Newell's family. 

"After his death grandmother continued the business and 
maintained the religious life in the family for seven years, 
when she joined him in the 'home beyond.' 

"There was not nnich of romance in our grandmother's 
life: just to live, as she lived, meant a great deal; but she 
has left a rich heritage to her children, that of a strong- 
character, which, viewed in any light, reflects only sym- 
metry and brightness. 

"We visited their graves, and, in the turf that yearly 
greens and fades above them, reverently planted some 
sprigs of myrtle." 




CHAPTER V 



Clinton Kelly. 



"■Be it my 07ily -wisdoDi here 
To serve the Lord with filial fear , 

With loving gratitude ; 
Superior sense may I display 
By shunning every evil way, 
And zvalking in the good." 

— Charles Wesley. 




HE immediate offsprino- of Samuel and Xancy 
Kell\- were Clinton, Temperance, Gilby, 
Albert. Cvrene, Sena, Ijilniure, Sanuiel. 
Rachel. Tabitlia. Thomas, and an infant 
son who lived but 12 hours. 
Of these. Clinton, ( lill)y, Albert and Sanniel were itiner- 
ant preachers; Sena married Josiah ( lodliex', who afterward 
became a preacher, and the five were members of the l\en- 
tucky conference at the same time. 

The deep religious fervor of Xancy Kelly found expres- 
sion in the ardent zeal of her preacher-sons. The one object 
of each, pursued to the close of life, was to cry: "'Ikdiold 
the Lamb of (^\o(\, that taketh away the sins of the world!"' 
.Mike in storm and sim, throui^h liar(Uliii)s unknown to 
llie pastor of tlie pre>eiU da\-, the\- prosecuted llieir noble 
work, counting no sacrillce too L;reat that would brinj.; men 
to Ciod. 

Clinton Ke]l\ was born on Clifty Crec']<. Jmie 15. 1808. 
.Amid i])e .struuij-les of KenluelsN life. bo\ s had little linn 
for bcjoks. and what ("hnton gained in thi> \\a\- wa^ through 
close ap|)lication at odd momenta. 



CLINTON KELLY. 25 



Here is an incident in point: A steer had been killed 
for meat and Clinton was up before day, making a "drag'" 
to haul it to Somerset, seven miles away; there was a deep 
snow on the ground. He drove a pair of steers hitched to 
the drag, sold the hide and returned long after nightfall 
with the sum of 50 cents, and considered himself well paid 
for his day's work. 

At 14 he was tanning hides, and one day had a chance 
to buy another on time, which he also put into the tanning 
trough. The payment became overdue and suit was brought 
to recover damages. He "dragged" the hides to market, 
sold them and paid the debt and costs, putting the surplus. 
25 cents, into his pocket with the firm determination to 
never again go into debt. 

But the boys had their sports, too, as this little story told 
by Solomon Newell will show: "One night the Kelly boys 
and some of their neighbors went fishing. They were hav- 
ing prime sport, when one of the boys landed a large cat- 
fish. 'Oh. see here, what I've got!' he shouted, and all gatn- 
ered round to admire the big fish. After a while they con- 
cluded to take a nap. and one of the youngsters thought of 
a fine trick. Slyly slipping the big fish from its string, he 
put it on his own hook, dropped it into the water and then 
flung it on the bank, calling out: 'Ho! Guess I've got a big 
one, too." But the boys had heard the splash and were a 
little suspicious; they looked at the fish and remarked it 
was 'just like Solomon's!' and on examination, behold! Sol 
onion's fish was gone. 

"It was decided the boy should be punished; they chose 
judge, jury and lawvers, and Clinton was the judge. The 
culprit was found guilty and sentenced to receive 30 lashes; 
but the judge recommended mercy in case he acknowledged 
the offense, which he did, and so escaped punishment." 

A peculiarly tender tie existed between Clinton and lus 
mother; much of the care of bringing up a large family fell 
upon the oldest son, which was increased by the long al)- 
sences from home and natural taciturnity of the father; 



26 THE KELLY CLAN. 



in consequence, mother ami son were brought into close 
companionship, and to his latest day he always spoke of her 
in terms of deep reverence. 

At an early age he became intensel}- concerned for his 
salvation. The feeling grew into an anxiou.? burden that 
he vainly tried to throw off, seeking relief by prayer and 
such means as he could command, only to iind that the 
load grew heavier and heavier. 

He had been sent on an errand and was returning home 
through the woods. He got down on his knees and tried 
to prav. but the more he tried the deeper grew the darkness 
in his soul. At last he gave up. concluding there was no 
salvation for him, saying to himself, "I have done all I 
know h(iw to do, and can do no more; I leave myself in 
the hands of God." No sooner had he reached this mental 
attitude than light from Heaven broke in upon him, and 
he could sing with a bounding heart: 



" The opening heavens around me shine 
With beams of sacred bliss; 
While Jesus shows his mercy mine, 
And whispers I am His." 

At this time he was 18 years of age. He confided his 
new-found joy to his mother, and arranged for a little meet- 
insr with a few friends, for his heart was btu-niufr with 
holy fire. 

Rut the news could not be kept; it spread with lighining 
rapidity, and people came from far and near, lor there was 
to be a meeting at Sam Kelly's and Clinton was to do the 
preaching. They came on foot and on horseback, a favored 
few in wagons, to hear the ])reaclur: they filled the house 
and Nard, and still ihey came. 

-As to Clinton, the situation can bntrr be imagined than 
told. I Ir was oviTwlulnud. Mr Tiad no thought of seeing 
more than tlu' inxited few. lie went out iiuo the brush 
behind tlic barn and there, with strong crying and tears, 
fought his battle, and won. .\ mere stripling, he faced thai 



CLINTON KELIvY. 27 



large company, many of whom had known him from birth, 
and told his story and delivered his message with such tell- 
ing effect that from that day forth none doubted the clear- 
ness of his call to preach the gospel of Jesus. 

What must have been the emotions of his pious mother 
at this signal answer to her prayers! 

There was neither church nor schoolhouse in the neigh- 
borhood, but the second story of his father's house was 
always open, and the sacred fire continued to glow and 
spread until a great revival followed, and many precious 
results Rowed from tlie gatherings in that consecrated up- 
per room. 

With his yoke of white steers the young preacher drew 
the logs and stones and built a schoolhouse, where he 
taught the first school. An immense fireplace filled each 
end, and floor and seats were made of puncheons. 

Himself and brothers built a church, with some outside 
help, of the same rude materials, and here they preached 
their first sermons. The name of the site was Mount Zion. 
and both church and schoolhouse were in use in 1882, the 
church having taken on some modern improvements, and 
the schoolhouse had had one chimney taken away. 

The pilgrims wandered about in search of some precious 
memento, and finding, half way down the hill, the old pul- 
pit fashioned by Albert Kelly's young hands, they secured 
a portion, took it to Cincinnati and had the wood formed 
into two cups, whicli thcv still retain. 



CHAPTER. VI 



Life ir\ KentucKy< 




" 1)1 hope of that iiinnoi-tal croivn, 
I now the cross sustain ; 
And gladly wander up and dozvn. 
And smile at foil ami pain." 



iT the age of 19, Clinton Kelly was united in 
marriage to Mary Baston, a young woman 
ill every way qualified to be a help to him 
in the path that Providence had marked 
otit. To obtain the license fee, he made a 
barrel of eider, crushing the apples by hand in a rude wav: 
the cider was hauled to town on a drag and sold for a dollar, 
which was the sum required. The preacher's fee was 
usually a cornhusk horse collar, the husks being braided 
together in the proper shape; as they were not very dura- 
ble, there was no danger of an over-supplv. 

The \'Oung folks went to keeping house near the Kelly 

home, on what was afterward known as the "Aden Jones 

place,'" Clinton continuing liis studies, preaching, teaching 

uid assisting his mother, whose laborious duties were in- 

vreaserl in consequence ('if his father's declim'ng liealtli. 

in 1834 his long-cherished purpose to enter the itiner- 
ancy was consunnnated; he attended the annual C(~inference 
that year in conqiany with his breather, Albert, and was 
assigned lo the Pdi7.al)elluowii circuit: Allien receiving an 
app( liiiiiium tlie same vear. The brothers retiuMied to make 
the fuial preparation and to say good-bve to their ])arents. 



LIFE IN KENTUCKY. 29 



prior to entering upon the privations and exposures inci- 
dent to the hfe of an itinerant preacher. The circuits were 
large, postofifices were few and far apart, and four weeks 
of horseback journeying through forests full of wild beasts, 
over rugged mountains and swollen streams, exposed to 
the frost hy night and heat by day — literally living in tin- 
saddle — all this and much more must be endured before 
thev would again behold the dear ones at home; and when 
it is remembered that such was to be their lot year after 
year while physical strength remained, it is easy to see that 
to be a circuit rider required a consecration of no super- 
ficial character. What might befall the loved ones between 
visits home, God only knew, but the itinerant learned to 
count all things loss for the Master he loved. 

The parting hour came, and once more they gathered 
around the family altar in the old home made holy l)y 
so many precious memories. The horses stood at the gate, 
equipped with saddle and saddlebags, wherein the preacher 
stowed his Bible, a rare book or two and the very few 
belongings that were indispensable. They knelt in prayer, 
and the afflicted father and devoted mother commended their 
sons to him who, when on earth, had no place to lay his 
head, and who says the servant is not above his Lord. 

We would fain lift the latch, enter that homely room. 
kneel in that sacred circle, and drink of that spirit of self- 
denial and sacrifice that, like a mystic magnet, draws m.n 
to the Christ. 

The scene closes; they rise from their knees, and hand 
grasps hand in kindred Christian fellowship. lUu where is 
Albert, the younger brother? They hurry to the door; hi> 
horse is gone. Behold! on yonder hilltop his form linnud 
against the sky; a moment more and it is lost to view; hi> 
emotions would not permit him a last good-bye. The la^t 
it proved to be. for ere the four weeks' "round" was com- 
pleted, the Angel of Life entered that humble home, and 
the father was led out into the glories of Eternal Day. 

A few fleeting years and a shadow fell upon the parson- 



30 THE KELLY CLAN. 



age. Mary Baston's health declined and nnich of Clinton's 
time was spent in caring for her. In Marcli he made a 
bed in tlie back of the wagon, tenderly lifted her in. and 
with the- five little boys she had given him — I'lympton, 
Hampton, Archon, Calmet and Kenjal — started for his 
mother's. There were no springs to the vehicle, and it 
was a journey of many a weary mile. Traveling and rest- 
ing, ihey reached C"lift_\- Creek in April, and the following 
June her spirit was free, and the worn casket was laid in 
Mount Zion cemetery. 

\\'ith all her cares, Nancy Kelly took into her heart the 
motherless boys. xA. few days ago the only surviving one 
of that group was asked: "What kind of woman was 
grandmother?" With a voice tremulous with unshed tears. 
he answered: "Just as good as they make them." 

A new mother came. Jane Burns, and within three short 
years she laid down life's burden, leaving a delicate daugh- 
ter, Mary Jane. The\- were on the Middletow n circuit, iar 
from home and kindred, but they were not forgotten; ( irand- 
mother Kelly sent her son Samuel lo bring the children 
home, and again the wagon was called into requisition for 
the long jom-nev to Clift\- Creek. The infant daughter was 
placed in a niini.'iturc cradle, fashioned by the father's 
hands, and carried in his lap; he carefidly tendetl antl noui- 
ished the baby, not knowing but each day would be her 

last: imtil, with a sigh of relief, he placed her i'^ his motner's 
arms. 

The shadow ]")assed, ;ind Moriali ("rain, daughter of John 
Crain. of I'ulaski CoinUy. came to preside ox'cr the home 
and be a mother to the children. Clinton and Moriah were 
married March ii. 1840: within the year. ( Irandmother 
Kelly eiUered into rest. 

Oeorgi' Tax lor perioinied tlte lu.irriage service and was 
l)aid in coin. A fur regaining ii awhile he handi'd it back, 
saying, "llere. I'.rotlier kelh : i'\e h.ad tiiis l<nig enough." 
Xot to l)e oin<I()ne. Clinton made and ])resented him with 
one of those huge spliiu b.iskels. in the making of which 
lu- was |ii( itieii'nl. 



LIFE IN KENTUCKY. 3 1 

John Grain was a specimen of those tine old Kentucky 
characters of whom we read, bnt who luive passed into 
history. At his daughter's marriage he presented her with 
a negro woman, and to his new son-in-law he gave a negro 
man. "No, father." said CHnton Kelly, "1 cannot consent 
to the ownership of my fellow-beings; with (Jod's blessing 
I can make a living for your daughter and my family with- 
out the use of such means as my conscience forbids"; and 
Moriah Grain, who had been shielded all her life, agreed 
with heart and soul. 

Moriah Maldon Grain, seventh child of John Grain ann 
Sarah Rousseau, was born in Pulaski Gounty, Kentucky, 
November 11. 1814. She was the granddaughter of Sam- 
uel Grain, who was born in Gulpepper Gounty. Virginia, m 
1741. He served as a soldier in the United States Navy 
during the Revolutionary War, and in 1797 moved to Ken- 
tucky, and died in 1829. Through her maternal ancestors 
she is a descendant of Hillaire Rousseau, a Huguenot, who 
came from France to Virginia upon the revocation of the 
Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV, October 22, 1685. Her 
great-grandfather, David Rousseau, married Mary Harri- 
son, a niece of Benjamin Harrison, the signer of the Decla- 
ration of Independence. 

Glinton continued to study, preach and work with his 
own hands, that, like Paul, he might be debtor to none. 
Everywhere he went a garden sprang up, and the new 
mother knit, spun and wove that the scant salary might ga 
for books. At her marriage Moriah had 12 dozen pairs of 
socks, spun and knit with her own hands; these she ex- 
changed for broadcloth, which went into a suit of clothes 
for Glinton. A year's salary, carefully hoarded, paid for a 
set of Glarke's Gommentaries. Amaziah Kellv, of Steuben- 
ville, Ky.. says that sometimes cash receipts fell below $5 
for the entire year. 

The Bible to Glinton Kelly was the book of books; his 
early study of its sacred pages was upon his knees; he lit- 
erally devoured the truths contained therein. As his cares 



32 THE KELLY CLAN. 



multiplied, lie carried a Testament in his pocket, and while 
riding or waiting at the mill, he fed upon the word of life. 
He grew to be so familiar with the sacred book that, given 
a clause or sentence, no matter how obscure, he was able to 
locate it, and give the connection, and his expositions of 
scripture were food for the soul. 

Alluding to this period, he says: "The firsr Bible I had 
was a society Bible and I carried it with nu- hundreds of 
miles under my arm, and whenever 1 had an op])ortunity I 
would read: I carried it with me to the blacksmith shop or 
when I went to chopping logs: and when T sat down to 
rest I read. I carried this until I obtained a pocket l>ible. 
I owe, under God, in a great measure what T have attained 
to this fact." 

His manner of preaching was simple and natural; his 
clothing of spiritual truth was in homely garb; so taught 
the Savior of men. Early in his ministry he preached a 
sermon on the judgment, and his hearers, listening with 
awe, were thrilled with his portrayal of the august scene. 

On the way home he was asked: "Brother Kelly, where 
did vou get that sermon?" "Where I get all the balance,'' 
was the characteristic reply. 

The over-fastidious were often startled ])\ his i)lain lan- 
truaire. even while thev acknowledged the truth of the 
message. 

Of Moriah Grain's nine children, fom- were born in ken- 
tuckv— John Grain, deceased: Sarali Margaret. I'einunbra 
and Laiu-a I'rances. 

Clinton Kelly jiartook of his father's peculiarities of style 
and dress, with a cordial soul that saw in every man a 
l)rother. of whatever race or color, and none ever came to 
him in distress tliat fonnd not succor. 

( )naint stories are still told oi his life in Kt'iUnckv. (">n 
one- occasion he stop])t'd ovei" night at the house of a vol- 
uble l;id\ who i)rt'ssed him to inalse himself eas\- and di^ 
ju-t as if he wvw at home. 

The great tirt'place was nnniing over with ashes that 



LIFE IN KENTUCKY. 33 



obstructed the draft. He went out, returned with the ash- 
bucket and took up the ashes, reheving the choked fire- 
place, putting the fire in order and sweeping up the hearth. 

He was proHfic of ways and means for the maintenance 
of his family. Performing long journeys on horseback, he 
worked on the way. Coming in sight of a house, the in- 
mates often wondered what the queer-looking turnout 
might be, to find, as he drew near, that he was weaving a 
prodigious basket, the horse's head protruding through the 
top, and the splints sticking out in every direction, nearly 
obscuring the rider. 

Sometimes he took along his shoemaker's kit and, while 
trying to lead his flock in the narrow path, pegged away at 
making shoes. On week davs he took his work into the pul- 
pit with him, so valuable was every moment of time. 

George Taylor, his presiding elder, once said of him: 
"That man is ashamed of nothing but sin." 

He loved the companionship of dumb animals, and the 
book of Nature was ever a new revelation. As he grew in 
years his heart grew strangely tender, and the sight of suf- 
fering in a child, the helplessness of a bird or a worm ap- 
pealed to his sympathetic soul. His married daughter was 
visiting him with lier infant son. In the night the child's 
crying awoke him. He rose and rebuilt the fire, took the 
little one in his arms and ministered to its relief, giving at 
the same time so precious a lesson on the tenderness of 
God the Father that the occasion will ever be cherished in 
that daughter's memory. 

Long after he had entered into rest, one of his sons said: 
"^^'hen 1 was growing up. there was no entertainment to 
me like sitting down to a quiet talk with my father." 




CHAPTER VII 



The AVestward Jourriey. 



'My presence shall go with thee, and I a ill give thee rest. " 

— Ex. XXXIII : 14. 



I HE political strife that agitated the Nation 
and caused division in the Methodist 
church served to turn the mind of Clinton 
Kelly toward the land of the setting sun. 
After long and prayerful consideration he 
Ijcgan to ])repare for the toilsome journey of 3000 miles 
over san(l\- wastes and mountain heights to the Pacific 
Coast. He buili wagons, gathered together whatever he 
thought would he of use in the new land, bade good-bye to 
old l\entuck\- in the l\-dl of 1847. and started for Oregon, 
accomj^anied 1)\- his brothers. Albert and Tliomas. The 
journey across the plains was a serit)us undertaking; it 
was doubtful whether the emigrants would ever reach their 
destination; if they escaped the hands of murderous savages 
there was danger of the cattle "giving out" and leaving 
them to die on the blistering sands; and sometimes, on the 
very verge of the promised land, looking down upon its 
verdant soil, they were caught in the snows of the Cascade 
mountains and nii-erabl\ jjerished. 

In l\iiilnck\ there was ]dent\- of cond)read. bacon and 
coffee, witli ma]il(.' sugar to sweeten it; and even delicious 
peaches; but there was the dark l)lot oi slavery upon the 
land, and the darker cloud of war in the sky, that impelled 
him to sevi-r tender ties, and with proi)hetic instinct he 



THE WESTWARD JOURNEY. 35 

scented from afar the fruitful vales and evergreen slopes 
''where rolls the Oregon, and hears no sound save its own 
dashing." 

The emigrants went into winter quarters at Independ- 
ence, Mo., and on the first day of May, 1848, the procession 
of 12 wagons rolled out for "'Lone Elm," the first camping 
place. The Richardsons, Emericks, Catlins and Welchs 
were in the train. At Lone Elm a hailstorm stampeded the 
cattle, and Albert Kelly's team was not to be found. After a 
two days' search he decided to put of¥ the trip another year, 
and the train moved on. One night as they halted the rain 
came down in torrents, no fire could be made and everybody 
went supperless to bed. It rained all night, and the next 
morning, wet and dismal, the rain still pouring, they yoked 
the cattle and plodded on, without breakfast, until 11 
o'clock; when the skies favored them and they were able 
to prepare food. 

Here and there treasured articles were left 1)\- the way- 
side as too greatl}- impeding the slow movements of the 
teams; occasionally a party dropped behind; sometimes a 
lae-ging team was overtaken; now a band of Indians sur- 
rounded the camp, to be beguiled of evil intent; then a 
lonely grave struck a chill to the heart. At The Dalles a 
party of settlers passed our emigrants on their way to 
avenge the massacre of the Whitman family. At this point 
the freight was shipped by water to Oregon City, whither 
the Kellys were bound, and the families made the laborious 
journey over the mountains. Clinton arrived with the goods 
on a raft, his last quarter spent that morning for a place in 
which to dry the books that had got a wetting in transit. 

The boys worked during the winter scoring timber for a 
breakwater for the Island Mills, and made barrel staves for 
George Abernethy, for which they were in part i)aid in 
potatoes. In the Spring they moved to Portland — a village 
of log huts — bought 640 acres of Government land on the 
east side of the Willamette for $50 and plant e<l potatoes. 



36 THE KELLY CLAN. 



which ihe}" sold fur $5 per bushel. Later on, a single apple 
of the Gloria Mtindi variety sold for $5. 

At ( )regon City a daughter, X'ictoria Ann, was born, and 
two of the boys, Calmet and llenjal Kellw bade their kin- 
dred "good-bye" and their bodies were laid in the soil of 
Green I'oim. 

" So swift trod sorrow on the heels of joy." 

At Oregon City the boys witnessed the novel sight of 
the landing of the first Territorial Governor of Oregon, 
General Joe Lane, from a canoe. As the canoe came within 
hailing distance, a man from the shore called out: 

"Is (Governor Lane in that canoe?" A form rose in the 
craft and answered back: 

"I'm the man," and immediately the waiting cannon 
belched forth the news that Oregon, as a Territory of the 
L'nited States, was welcoming to her shores her first ap- 
pointed (Governor. 

The suite ui the new executi\e had not arrived: there w;is 
no one to swear him into office. The only Justice of the 
Peace availal)le was Mr. Walling, father of A. (i. Walling. 
since known in business circles in roril'iml. 

The idea of a humbK- Justice swearing in a Governor was 
sometliing unlieard of. Mr. Walling consulted Clinton Kelly 
as to whether the oath would be effective in such a case, wdio 
saw no objection under the circumstances, and so the rite 
was ])erformed. 

During the years of 1866-7, l>i^hoi) Kavanagh. of Ken- 
tucky, made a tour of California and ( )regon in the inter- 
ests of the Methodist Church .South. 

Of Clinton \\c\\\ a> he was known in Kentucky and of 
the bisho])'s \i>ii to him ai his home near Portland, the 
Louisville Chri-iian Advocate of January 22, 1H68. pid)- 
lished the following account: 

"\ er\ man\ of our Kenluckx .Melliodists will remember 
Clint<in KelK. for man\- vears a membrr of the Kentucky 



THE WESTWARD JOURNEY. 37 



conference. He was a rugged specimen of a man, physic- 
ally, from Pulaski County, in the edge of the mountains; 
was tall and ungainly in person and somewhat stoop-shoul- 
dered; had a homely but pleasant countenance; a rather 
drawling but strong and expressive voice; was generally 
well dressed at conference, but on his circuits was not 
always careful to be arrayed in the height of fashion. 

"He was a great student and a great worker. lie literally 
devoured the standard works of Methodism; and when he 
preached he showed himself familiar with the subjects he 
discussed, and presented his ideas in plain and forcible lan- 
guage, impressing his auditors with the conviction that he 
was no 'botch' in ecclesiastical matters. 

"His salaries were never large; and what he lacked in 
the way of support from his parishioners he made up by 
his own exertions. He did not scorn to make a basket, 
peg a shoe, or follow the plow. In a parsonage lot where 
he once lived grew some beauteous cedars, the jiride of a 
former owner, whose dark green hue lent a charm to the 
place; but. in the estimation of the matter-of-fact incumbent 
of the premises, only cumbered the ground. With mattock 
and spade he soon had their bare roots and green leaves 
^ lying on the street, and neighbors were invited to supply 
themselves with cedar trees to adorn their own yards, and 
the coming summer found cabbages and potatoes growing 
where the exiled cedars had flmn-ished. 

"We have heard it said that sometimes, on going with 
his Vvorthv wife to spend a day in the country, he would 
pile into the family barouche the week's 'washing,' for her 
to do the ironing while making her visit, and he took with 
him a volume of Clarke's Commentaries, or Fletcher's 
Checks, and a pair of half-made shoes, and between peg- 
ging shoes and discussing theology ho would spend the day 
industriously and profitably, instructively and pleasantly. 
He was a man of earnest piety, truly devoted to the church, 
and no unchristian act ever tarnished his fair name. 

"In 1847 P>rother Kelly, charmed with accounts from 



38 THE KELLY CLAN. 



Oregon, started Ijy land tu that distant wilderness region. 
Twenty years ago we saw him on his way, passing through 
Southern Kentucky; his household goods drawn Ijy oxen 
and cows. The cows drew their burden by day and fur- 
nished the famil\ with milk at night; and in ( )regon became 
the maternal ancestors of the herds of cattle that graze in 
the rich pasture fields of their owner. After a long and 
wearisome journey across the plains and over the moun- 
tains. Brother Kelly pitched his tent in the far-ofif land of 
Oregon and said; 41 ere 1 rest." 

"Now for Bishop Kavanaugh's account of this hardy pio- 
neer as he saw him in his Oregon home. 

"The bishop landed at Portland, Or., stop])ed at Arri- 
goni's Hotel, and in the course of the evening inquired of 
his host if he knew Clinton Kelly. 

" 'Oh. ves.' said the man. with a smile, 'everybody knows 
him. and vou will see him tomorrow. lie is here every 
day.' The next day 'Old Man Kelly.' as he is conunonly 
called, paid his respects to the bishop — met him with all the 
kindness and cordialit\- that ct^ild be desired under the cir- 
cumstances. 

"After the salutation, in whiidi the old friends mutually 
indulged in this glad meeting, the old man >aid; A\'ell, 
Kavanaugli. it wouldn't be religious for you to go back to 
Kentuck\- without making me a visit.' 

"The bishop assented, and arrangements were made for a 
visit the ensuing day. At the appointed time a young man 
was ushered into the bishoi)'s room with the announce- 
ment; 'Old Man Kelly has sent me after you.' and the 
bisho]) was. in dm- lime, borne in a buggy two miles and a 
half to the ]>lace of destination. 

"He was cordially greeted and found a pleasant home 
with his friend of other days. 

"Tlu' house was of large pro]ioriioiiN. 'The sitting-room.' 
the bishop s;iid. "was _v^ f*-'<-'t scpiare." .\ somewhat incredu- 
lous broihir re\erentl\- suggested, "r-ishop. don't you think 



THE WESTWARD JOURNEY. 39 



you stretched your blanket in stating the size of that 



room?' 



"But the bishop steadfastly affirmed that it was so — 30 
by 30 — equal to 900 square feet, re(|uiriug ioo yards of 
carpet to cover it; but so extensive a drain ku the carpet 
makers was obviated by dispensin,Q' with ilu' useless articU-. 

"Amonc the 'old man's' household were a lot of Chinese 
servants, or California 'freedmen.' They had been liired 
from an agent in Portland, who traffics in such 'chattels.' 
They had been there only a few days, anxl seemed to be 
concocting an 'insurrection.' There was manifestly a com- 
motion among the 'long-tailed' gentry, and the next morn- 
ing it culminated in a demand for 'a settlement.' 

"The "old man.' as was his daily custom, had rigged 
himself for .'wind and weather.' Taking a large potato sack, 
he put a potato in each corner, and throwing it over his 
shoulders, passed a string around each potato, and thus se- 
curelv tied it in its place; and by the same process attached 
another sack in front for an apron. 

"The immigrants from the Celestial empire eyed closely 
the operation. The slouched hat, the patched garments and 
the potato bag coverings convinced the Chinamen that they 
were 'taken in,' and would never be paid for their serv- 
ices. 

"Thev demanded settlement and refused another hour's 
work. The old man, unable to comprehend the situation 
from the unmeaning jargon of the yellow-skinned ])agans, 
sent a deputation with his son to see the man in town who 
trades in Chinese, and from whom they had been hired. 

"They soon explained to him what the difficulty was, and 
he sent them back with assurances that the 'old man' was 
all right and would pay them to the last nickel. 

"When the son returned, he told his father what the trou- 
ble was, that the 'Celestials' thought that no man that 
dressed in bags and rags and patches, as he did, woidd ever 
be able to pay his laborers for services rendered. The old 



40 THE KELLY CLAN. 



man laughed at the joke and put the yellowskins to work. 
but held on to his ornaments, regardless of the unfavorable 
opinion of 'Jo^" Chinaman.' 

"The bishop, in looking over the premises, eyed a long 
pile of potatoes, and inquired how many there were. 
'About 6000 bushels.' 'Are they all you have?' 'AH but 
about 12 acres.' was the reply. He had great piles of fine 
apples and a house full besides, and other eatables in pro- 
portion. When asked what amount of vegetables he had on 
his premises, he said: 'Well, about enough to feed a 
colony.' 

"At bedtime the members of the family were called in. 
and the old man arose and said: 

" 'Jesus, great Shepherd of the sheep, 
To thee for help we fly.' 

"The remaining lines are: 

" ' Thy little flock in safety keep, 
For oh, the wolf is nigh.' 

"Brother Kelly is a member of ihc N'ortlurn chnrcli. but 
he (lid not design anv personal application to ihe Southern 
bisho]) wIkmi he sang. 'I'or oil, the wolf is nigh": in proof 
of which, he not only called on the bishop to pray at the 
close of the liynni, but liad him preach next night in the 
neighboring XorlluTii church. t<i the neighbors called in. 

"IJefore morning prayer he l)egan tlie service with a 
h\inn, uttert'il in his own jieculiar style: 

" 'Jesus shall reign where'er the sun 
Doth his successive journeys run.' 

"After the bishop's sermon in the church, I'rother Kelly 
followed with some afifecting allusions to the bishop imd his 
acquaintance with him in otlurdays, when both were young. 
and bv his remarks and deep emotion made the occasion 
one of si)ecial intiiest to the people, as well as to himself 



THE WESTWARD JOURNEY. 4 1 



and the bishop, and in the final separation in Portland a 
few months later, 'the old man' of Oregon 'wept like a 
child.' 

"Clinton Kellv has grown rich in Oregon, but has main- 
tained his faith and i^ety and is a local preacher. 

"His brother Albert is also in Oregon, a reputable mem- 
ber of the Northern conference. 

"We write this sketch for the entertainment of Clinton 
Kelly's many friends in Kentucky. Others afar ofif, less in- 
terested, must pardon us for any want of interest it may 
have for them. Clinton Kelly was a character in Ken- 
tucky." 









^^ 







M 



CHAPTER VIII 



Clinton Kelly's Descendetnts. 



''For I knozv hitn, that he ivill command his children 

and his household after hi)ii, and they shall keep the icay 

of the Lord. ' ' 

— Gkn. XVIII : 19. 



_ J.fXTi )X KELLY was not a menilxT of the 
Oregon conference. l)ut he maintained ap- 




])nintments at Portland, Mihvar.kie. Oregon 
City. Foster's. Miunn Tabor and other 
places." Tie wore a tall, white beaver hat. 
a jeans overcoat that reached nearly to the groimd. and 
carried a hickory cane, bronght from Kentucky, and Sun- 
day morning saw him. a benign smile ni)on his 1 ugged face, 
bidding his family good-bye and starting olif for a walk of 
several miles to his preaching place. One Sunda\- morning, 
in the \'ear 1849. himself and brother Thomas arrrived ai 
the log schoolhouse in the vicinity of Second and Washing- 
ton streets. Portland, where he expected to ])icacn. 

As no one had cimie. he told his brother to stay and he 
would go luu and limit up a congregation. They began 
to dro]) ill, (iiie Ml" twii at a time, until about the entire pop- 
ulation had gathered, 15 (ir _'o in ;dl, and he preached unto 
them the word of life. i.;itiT, he hauled the limbers and 
lu'l])ed erect the first church building in I'orllaud. 

It is uiit needful to dwell uixm the life of C'linmn Kelly; 
his deeds are recorded in iU-aven. iu the joys of which he 
has long been a hap]i\ parlieipaul. There cuidd be but 
line endin!/ to such a life as his. 



CLINTON Kelly's descendants. 43 

He crossed the narrow boundary between worlds June 19, 
1875. A few weeks prior to liis departure a Uir^c circle of 
friends assembled at his request at his home to partake with 
him of the Last Supper. To these and others he left this 
farewell message: 

"After a protracted affliction, very feeble in body and very 
near the end of my earthly pilgrimage. I feel a desire to 
inform my numerous friends, in and out oi the church, of 
my prospects for another world. During my affliction 1 
have had many manifestations of the great love of Jesus, 
which has given me patience and resignation, and a good 
hope through grace; and I suppose that if hundreds, nay. 
even thousands of men and women were present to witness 
mv unshaken confidence in God. who can have no such 
opportunity, it would be a saving lesson to them. 1 want 
to say to one and all that there is no name given under 
Heaven whereby we can be saved only the name of our 
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For 50 years it has been my 
special care to make myself acquainted with the religious 
theories of the world, and the best you- can do for your soul's 
sake is to cast the whole of them to the moles and bats, and 
trust alone in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin here, vic- 
tory in death and eternal salvation above. This you would 
all admit if your souls were in my soul's stead, standing 
ready to depart. I want you to understand that this is not 
the result of a fevered brain, or hallucination of any knid. 
I have not had an hour's fever in the whole course of my 
disease. My mind has been all the while as clear and 
rational as through common life." 

The Portland Oregonian said of him: "For 48 years he 
diligentlv served his God; and after a long life of useful- 
ness. full of many sufferings and privations, he has gone 
to reign with him." 

Twenty-five years later Judge J. F. Caples, late ^linister 
to Chili, '])aid him this tribute: "I doubt if the next genera- 
tion will produce another such man; it can't do it. He was 
the most powerful natural speaker I ever heard: and he 



44 THE KELLY CLAN. 



never was afraid to sa}' what he thought. In tlie later years 
of his Hfe we were warm personal friends, and I still cherish 
his memory." 

Plympton, eldest son of Clinton Kelly, is living- in the 
vicinity of Portland; his postoflfice is Palestine, Or. He is 
a prosperous farmer and has three living children, three 
having passed over in early man and womanhood — Calmet, 
Clinton and Harriet. His living cliildren are Mrs. Euda 
Niblin, of Palestine; Mrs. Mary Howitt, of Gresham, and 
James Garfield Kelly. He has one grandchild; two died in 
infancy. Plympton Kelly is the oldest of the Kelly stock 
on the Pacific Coast, being six months older than his uncle, 
Thomas Kelly, of North Yakima. Wash., and is a true type 
of the genuine, old-fashioned, hospitable Kentuckian. He 
is uni(|uc in style and manner, and one w'ould need to travel 
far to rind another like him. His wife is Elizabeth A. 
Clarke, a niece of Mrs. Calvin S. Kingsley; the Rev. and 
]\Irs. Kingslev were missionaries sent out to Oregon by the 
Methodist Episcopal Board of Missions in 1S51. 

Hani])ton, second son of Clinton Kelly, passed away 
from liis liome in Wasco County, Oregon, in 1899. He 
was a great P)ible student, and one of the last acts of his 
life was to ])uild a cinu-ch in his neighborhood. His wife 
is Margaret Eitch, of Indiana. They have five children liv- 
ing — four having died — and seven grandchildren. Plymp- 
ton Kelly, road supervisor in Multnomah County: ^Ivs. 
Melen .M;iuU'\- and Linus Kelly, of I'ortland. and l.uzerne 
and Lester KelK, of Wasco County, belong to this brancli 
of tlie faniilv. The eldest daughter, 'Mrs. Ziirah Tnur.-'n, 
left one son, Delman Lo_\(l, and two daughters, Steila and 
Gertrude. .*~^tella — Mrs. ^^'oodside — has buried tw(~» chil- 
dren. l'l\ni])ton has two sons. ( ilenn and Knx : Luzerne 
has ()\]v son, Moxd, anil Linus has a daughtei\ Leetta. 

.\rchon Kelly was in the itinerant work in the ( )regon 
conference for some years, lie settled at Pleasant I Ionic, 
whence he was called away in October, t8()0, his wife, 
I'dizalteth kiiork. of Tennessee, preceding him. lie has 



CLINTON KELLY S DKSCENDANTS. 45 

four living" children and 21 grandchildren; five daughters — 
Mrs. Corinna Culbertson, Mrs. Lillie Dundee and Mrs. 
Rose Calvin of the number, an infant son and a great- 
grandchild, have departed this life. John B. Kelly, ot Port- 
land, inventor of a pneumatic motor tube; 1'. J. Kelly, of 
the Evangelical Oregon Conference; Mrs. Moriah Buoy, 
of Idaho, and Samuel Kelly, farmer, of \\'asco County, be- 
long to Archon Kelly's family. 

Calmet and Benjal Kelly died at Oregon City, in the 
winter of 1848-y. 

Mary Jane, eldest daughter of Clinton Kcily, was Mr?. 
James Akin, of Benton County, Oregon. She died, leav- 
ing a little daughter, now Mrs. Addie Fulton, of X'allejo, 
Cal. Mrs. Fulton has one daughter. 

John Crain, eldest son of Moriah Crain, died in infancy. 
Sarah Margaret — Mrs. J. W. Kern, of Portland— has 
eight living children — one dead — and 10 grandchildren. 
L. E. Kern, of the Portland Brick Combine; Clinton Kern, 
of the Southern Pacific carshops; Mrs. Mary Leo. Mrs. 
Mildred Hawes, Mrs. Annie Yerrix, Beatrice — Airs. Rev. 
Charles Hurd. of the Evangelical Conference; Sarah Eu- 
genia, a teacher in the public schools of Portland, and \'era 
Margaret, are her children. 

Penuml)ra Kelly represented his .district in fhe Oregon 
Legislature four terms; was L^nited States Marshal for Ore- 
eon for a term of vears, and served his countv in the capac- 
itv of Sheriff for several terms. He married Mary E., 
daughter of Judge P. A. Mar(|uanL of Portland. His chil- 
dren are: Mary Agnes, assistant keeper of the Kelly rec- 
ords; Samuel Ralph and 'Sarah Maldon. Three little sons 
have gone to the better land. 

Laura h\— Mrs. E. Turner, of Stockton, Cal.— has eight 
children: four on earth and four m Pleaven; three daugh- 
ters went in their i)rime, loving their Lord and following 
gladlv where he led. Edith Turner Croves left two sons — 
Clinton Kellv and Albert Loyal: an infant son going before. 



46 THE KELLY CLAN. 



R. Izer Turner (married), a teacher in Southern Cali- 
fornia; Laura Lucile, a senior in the University of Cahfor- 
nia; John K. Turner, of Los Angeles (married); and Rich- 
mond Kelly Turner are of this branch. 

Moriah Emily — Mrs. Rev. John Shaver — of Portland, is 
the mother of five children ; Harold and Cora, students in 
the College of Forest Grove; Isolene, Sarah A. and Wil- 
lard. This is a family of singers. 

Frederika B.. youngest daughter of Clinton Kelly, is Mrs. 
Rev. Martin Judy, of the Southern California Conference. 
She has six children: Clinton and Emily \'irginia, stu- 
dents in the University of California; Fredrika, Martin. 
Juanita and Howard. 

V Dr. Richmond Kelly, youngest living son of Clinton 
Kelly, is a graduate of Aliami Medical College, Cincinnati. 
O. He married Addie S. Morgan, of Pennsylvania, ami 
together thev returned to his native state, where he has 
become established in his chosen profession. 

Their clnldren are Joyce Raymon<l, Laura. Esther and 
Wilbur Clinton. Dr. Kelly has the family Bible that orig- 
inally belonged to Sanuiel Kelly. 

Raymond, youngest son of Clinton Kellw died in infancx. 

Of Clinton Kelh's living descendants there are seven 
children. 43 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren. 



^ 



'l\'m])erance, eldest daughter of Sanuu-l and Xancy Kelly. 
was ])orn January tj. iSio. She was, like hei mother, a 
woman of faith and ])iety, and her life was an exemplarv 
one. She married Aden Jt)nes and was the mother of 13 
children: .Marshall, Joseiihine, lunerald. C>rus .Marion. 
dreeiuip. i'diza, Xir;i, Salena. .Morris E., McKendree. Pa- 
melia. Samuel l\ell\ and Lavena. Two of these are liv.ng 
— Cyrus M.. with a laniil\- of six children and two grand- 
children, and S.inuiel Kelly, who has a family and resides at 
.Mort'land, K\. ' 't Teniperance Kelly's grandcliildren, 



CLINTON KELLY'S DESCENDANTS. 47 



Morris Lee Jones lives in Kansas Cit\ . Mo.; Mrs. Jose- 
phine Raney. who has a son — Lee Raney — in the Johns 
Hopkins University, at Baltimore; a family of six children 
in Kansas belonging to Emerald Jones; four children 
of Xira Jones Bell, and Lavina Jones Newell 's family, one 
of whom lived in Chicago at last accounts. 

Cyrus AL Jones is a well-to-do farmer living near Hall's 
Gap, Ky. A visit to his home in 1882 is still remembered 
with pleasure. Himself and hospitable wife royally enter- 
tained their guests in whole-souled Kentucky fashion. 
Cvrus is a plain, unassuming, energetic character, possess- 
ing many of the admirable traits that belong to the Kellys. 
In appearance and manner he resembles his imcle. Thomas 
Kelly. His farm of 300 acres is in good cultivation, and 
everything about him wears a look of thrift and comfort. 
The eldest daughter married Tolbert Martin and has two 
children, one named Clinton Kelly. Eugene W., Cyrus 
Jones' oldest son, is in Oklahoma. 

Cyrus Jones' postofihce is Maywood, Ky. 




CHAPTER IX 



A Family of PreacKers. 



" Thy every suffering servant. Lord, 

Shall as his perfect Master be ; 
To all thy inzcard life restored, 

And outwardly conformed to thee ; 
Out of thy grave the saints shall rise. 
And grasp through death the glorious prize.'' 



X "Life and Travels of W. !'>. Landnini" we 
find the folllowing- entry, wliicli will |nivo 
ns an idea of the extent of a circuit in carly 
tinu'S in Kentucky: "( )ur ai)pointments 
were read out Thursday night, the 29th of 
October (1829). and I was appointed to Somerset circuit, 
which was so large it extended into five counties, and em- 
braced 26 preaching places for 2S da\s." 

In his "first round." Mr. Landrum says lie "preached 
at Sanmel Kelly's, cnil of whose family so many preachers 
have been called into the itinerant field." 

r.rieth- has the life of one of these— Clinton Kelly — been 
told, (oucerning his broihers a few facts have been gath- 
ered, wliich will serve \.o inilicate the character of these 
devotrd men. 

A. 11. ixidford. in ]n> book entitled "Western Cavaliers." 
in which fre(|ucni mention is made of the four brothers. ha> 
this sketch of the second son of Samuel and Xancy Kellv: 
"( ii!b\ Kell\ was boin in I 'ulaski Counlw Ki'Utucky. Jtnie 
iS. iSij. ilis father and mother were distinguished for 



A FAMILY OF PRKACHERS. 49 

their fervent piety and devotion to the Methodist church, 
of which they were zealous members. 

"Being wholly uneducated at the time of cnteriui;- the 
conference, he resolved to acquire, by patient and untiring 
study, that which had been denied him in his childhood and 
youth. With an intellect far al)ove mediocrity, he soon 
stored his mind with useful knowledge, and at an carlv age 
took rank, not only as a respectable scholar, ])ut as an able 
minister, with the first preachers of his age in the con- 
ference. 

"Genial and warm-hearted, Gilby Kelly made friends in 
every circle in which he was thrown; and zealous and active 
in the work of the ministry, he was beloved and efficient in 
the several charges he filled. 

"His devotion to books never inclined him to neglect his 
work, but, 'instant in season, out of season,' wherever duty 
called him, he was prompt to fulfill its requirements. 

"As an example for young men who have entered the 
ministry without educational advantages, we point with 
pleasure to Gilby Kelly to show what may be accomplished 
by industry and perseverance.'' 

At the Kentucky annual conference of 1843, quoting from 
Mr. Redford again: "Gilby Kelly succeeded John James 
on the Govington district. This was the first experience of 
Mr. Kellv as a presiding elder. He was eminently cjuali- 
ficd for the responsible trust and performed tlie duties 
assigned bim with signal ability." 

He purchased a small tract of land near Covington, which 
he intended as a home for his family; 1)ut "the Reaper came 
that way," and in the Winter of 1846-7 he was transferred 
to higher fields. Mr. Tucker, of Covington, who visited him 
in his last illness, says: "He was a grand preacher and one 
of the finest ]mlpit orators I ever heard." 

His body was laid to rest in the cemetery at Covington, 
attended bv the several orders of Masons, Odd Fellows 



50 THE KELLY CLAN. 



and Sons of Temperance, of each of which societies he was 
a member. 

The following memoir appeared in the general minutes 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South: 

"Rev. Gilby Kelly was born in Pulaski County. Ken- 
tucky, in ]8i2. The religious instruction and example he 
received from his parents, who were members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, laid the foundation of his early 
piety. 

"About the 20th year of his age he entered the Christian 
ministry and was admitted on trial in the traveling connec- 
tion at the session of the Kentucky conference in 1832. in 
Harrodsburg, and was appointed to labor in the 1 linckstone 
circuit: I'restonsburg. 1833: Port William. 1834; Danville, 
1835; Somerset, 1836; Hopkinsville, 1837 and 1838; Eliza- 
beth, 1839; Newport, 1840; Minerva. 1841 ; Richmond. 1842. 
In 1843 l""-' '^'^'^s appointed to the Covington chstrici, where 
he continued until 1846, when he was appointed to the Bur- 
lington circuit, where he laid down his body with his 
charge, and ceased at once to work and live. 

"P)rother Kcllv was endowed with a strong mind, which 
he cultivatetl by giving himself tt) writing and studx. and 
became a respectable scholar, and showed himself a work- 
man not to be ashamed. In hYdMmary. 1847, Brother Kelly 
was attacked with fever, but endured the dissolution oi his 
earthh- tabernacle as a Christian — "a C/hristian. the highest 
st\le of man." 

"Just as Brother Kelly was descending into the Jorchui 
of death. Brother btim Hill, one of our preachers, made 
the following in(|uiry: X'an you cast all your ciivc uix:)n 
Cod, who called \nu to ])reach Christ to others?' lie an- 
swiTed: ■( )]i, \es, ni\' brother; Coil cannot err: let him do 
w hal seenielli him g* n )d." 

"lie called his faniil\- to his bed and pronounced hi> final 
benediction upon his wife and four helpless children. It 
was a solemn hour. I le then turned himselt in his bed and 



A FAMILY OF PRICACHERS. 5I 

vanquished the last enemy, which is death, throuj^h faitn 
in the precious Redeemer. 

" 'Servant of God, well done! 

Well hast thou fought the fight.' " 

After Gilby Kelly's death his family went to Missouri and 
subsequently to Kansas, where some of his children still 
live. 

Henry Bascom, eldest son of Gilb\- Kelly, vi an attorney 
in Topeka. Kan. ; for 20 years he resided in Elk Falls, that 
state, editing and publishing the Elk Falls Journal, and has 
been identified with politics in his state. He has one son, 
Gilby Kelly, at Galena. Kan., and one daughter, Emma L. 
Kelly, a gifted young lady, who has just returned from 
Klondike and will pid^lish a book giving, her four years' 
experience in the mining districts of Alaska. 

Samuel Kelly, the second son, is in the United States 
mail service in Kansas City. He also has a son, Gilby 
Kelly, who is a dentist. 

Mrs. Sarah Kelly Alorgan. the tnily daughter who grew 
to womanhood, died, leaving a daughter, Mrs. Hattie Mor- 
gan Wiley, of Allegheny, Pa. 

Bascom Kelly gives this information in a letter of date 
July, 1900: "Settled about Elk City, in Montgomery 
County, there is another neighborhood of l\ell\s, the older 
stock of which were cousins of my father. Possibly in ihnt 
neighborhood there are 20 or 25 of the Kelly tribe, removed 
second, third and fourth generation in tlie line o{ cousin - 
ship." 

^ . * * * ^ 

Albert Kelly w^is born April 2, 1814. A child of Nancy 
Kelly could not l)e other than the subject of early religious 
impressions, and at the age of 13 he gave his heart to God 
and joined the Methodist church. 

About this time he became a sufferer from "white swell- 



52 THE KELLY CLAN. 



ing," and the years that were requisite for the development 
of mind and body were spent in a crippled and suffering 
condition, the consequences of which never entirely left 
liini. He amused liiniself making buttons out of bone 
with his pocket-knife; these he sold for a small sum, con- 
tributing his mite toward the family earnings. When weary 
of making buttons or perusing the few books at hand, he 
made charcoal sketches of "the lame boy."- which were 
creditable likenesses of himself. Emerging into manhood, 
his vigorous constitution enabled him to throw off the 
disease, and he prepared himself for the ministry. He was 
admitted to the Kentucky conference in 1834. In 1837 he 
was appointed to the Somerset circuit, where he began his 
ministry, and that year, says A. H. Redford. "Albert Kelly 
and his colleague received into the church more than 100 
persons." He brought home to his mother his young wife, 
Nira Bingham, a "Yankee" lady, of the family of Bingham, 
of Ohio. A'ery sweetly she fell into the ways of Kentucky 
life, and shared the burdens of her itinerant luisband with 
a patient spirit that never forsook her. Here in the Kelly 
home their hrst-boili, Bingham, saw the light. 

In 1838 Albert Kelly was assigned to the Burlington cir- 
cuit. Such a thing as a carriage was scarccl\ to be had for 
love or money; so he made one in which lo convey his wife 
and child to his distant appointment. And such a carriage! 
One needed a stepladder to get into it. and his younger 
brothers du'bbed it "the giraffe"; but it promised to answer 
the i)urpose, and late in the fall he started for his circuit, 
picking up liis wife and son at Danville, whiilier they had 
])recede(l liini. 

1 1 was Xovember, the roads were new, and to make the 
situation worse it brgan to snow and rain, lie drrw up at 
tlif fi )i >t ( if a hill, ii 11 )k ( itY tlu' l)ridk' and ga\ (.■ his liorse some 
feed. The horse took fright and sprang forward, tlie wheel 
■struck a stump :ind tlu- animal tor^ out of [hv harness, ran 
a sli(irl di'-tanci' and sIo])])(.'d. 

\\v wa> in a iliUnnn.-i. l"ortnnalel\- it was nrii far to a 



A FAMILY OF PREACHERS. 53 



house, where he obtained some awls and string' and re- 
turned to repair the damage. Some horsemen passed, l)ut 
in answer to his appeal for assistance only lauti'hed at him. 
Presently a bov came from the house and demanded the 
awls; he started up the hill, when another boy came run- 
ning down and wanted "them awls"; and as he passed the 
house the same imperative demand was yelled out from the 
doorway. He concluded it must be "hard times".' in that 
locality. 

He reached the tollgate with not a cent in his pocket, 
and had some difftculty in persuading the gate-keeper to 
allow him to pass. Arriving at a tavern he sought shelter 
for the night, promising to pay as soon as he could obtain 
the monev; to which consent was reluctantly given. Stroll- 
ine out to the barn half an hour later, he found a negro 
beating his horse, that still had bridle and collar on, and 
declaring he should have nothing to eat, as his master 
had no monev. In the tavern were a number of men who 
appeared to be incarnate devils. In the morning the horse 
was found lying down and wedged in the stall so that it 
took several men to get him out. Tn the evening he reached 
his destination with a thankful heart. 

In 1841 he was assigned to Bowling Green circuit, and 
in 1842. Radford says, "Albert Kelly in tin- Wayne circuit 
was instrumental in doing much good"; also, in 1843, "^" 
the Greensburg circuit, to which .\lbert Kelly and Timothy 
C. Frogge were appointed, the showers of grace were fre- 
quent and refreshing. The preachers were both zealous 
and useful. Mr. Kelly had been a traveling preacher for 
years, but his colleague had just entered the conference." 

October 9, 1844, at Lawrence, Ivy., he makes this entry 
in his notebook: "God has blessed me with a good wife and 
three fine children. T am just entering on the labors of 
mv eleventh vear in the itinerancy, and ( iod only knows 
whether I shall finish it or not. I have located my family 
in order that I may labor to more purpose in the vineyard 
of the Lord: and T have an increased desire to give myself 



54 THE KELLY CLAN. 



wliollv to God and his service. I have an increased desire 
for hoHness of heart, so that my words, and acts, and 
thoughts may be right. Oh, Lord, let me now receive the 
fidness of all Gospel blessings." 

He was transferred to the Oregon work, and in Octo- 
ber, 1849, arrived in Portland with his family. He settled 
at what is now known as Hillsdale, west of Portland, and 
continued the gospel call to the close of his earthly life. 

Some vears after coming to ( )regon he removed to 
Yakima, Washington, and while on the way to a quarterly 
meeting he was overtaken in a snow storm; he took cold, 
which brought on pneumonia, resulting in his death while 
still in the vigor of manhood, in the faithful prosecution of 
his Master's work. 

Pdngham, his eldest son, had passed over when life's 
activities had but just begun: also an infant daughter, and 
Mrs. Carrie Akin, a sweet-tempered woman, who left one 
son, Lewis H. Akin, an artist, in New York. The remain- 
ing members of the family were Moriah Clinton — Mrs. V. 
B. DeLashmutt. of Spokane, Washington; Silas Gilby, 
Mattie — Mrs. Dr. O. P. S. I'huumer, of Portland: Philander 
r.ascom. Lee Whitman and ALarietta, who became Mrs. 
Thiesen and died leaving one daughter. Gustina. who is in 
California. 

Sorrows came thick and fast ui)on dear "Aunt Xira" in 
lu'r bereavement. The two young sons for whose benefit 
thev had removed to Washington were soon taken from 
her. Philander went in search of a band of horses that 
were in peril in a storm of snow and sleet. He lost his 
way and perished. A month later his Ixnly was found. 
Lee was drowned while crossing the Xatchez River: his 
bodv was never recovered. It was hard for ihe mother, 
])ut in tlu' light of the ■"other side" she is now reading the 
meaning of life's mysteries. 

( )l Albert Kellv's nine children three are living, and 
ten grandchildren. 



A FAMILY OF I'K i:ACI1 I'.RS. 55 



Mrs. DeLashmutt's faniil\- consists of Ernest (married), 
in the hardware business in Stites, Idaho; one daughter, 
Inez, and Ivan, who holds a Government position as min- 
ing engineer in Mexico. Slie has buried two children. 

Mrs. Plummer has four daughters and one son: Grace, 
Agnes, keeper of the Kelly records; Hildegarde. Ross and 
Marian. 

Silas G. Kelly is married and lives on a farm near Port- 
land 

;!« -^ -Ai H: * 

Samuel Kelly, fifth son of Samuel and Nancy Kelly, was 
born March 2, 1823. There were two sisters and one 
brother between himself and his brother Albert, but it 
seemed desirable to introduce him in connection with his 
brotlier ministers. He was a young man of much promise, 
and gready devoted to his mother. At her death, which 
occurred when he was 18 years of age, there was no longer 
any reason to delay the fulfillment of his cherished desire 
to take up the itinerant work, and he was admitted the 
same year, 1841, to the Kentucky conference, which held 
its session in Maysville. 

Unable, up to this time, on account of home duties, to 
devote himself to study, he now began to ajjply himself 
in earfiest. First was the study of the Word; and, as a 
means to its better understanding, the Greek and Hebrew 
languages; and he soon became known as a thorough stu- 
dent. 

When 20 years of age Redford writes of him: ""On the 
Little Sandy circuit Samuel Kelly made full proof of his 
ministry. In that rugged field he accomplished much good, 
and was instrumental in bringing many to Glu-ist." 

He became accpiainted with a gentle woman, Mary Jane 
Rice, youngest child of Campbell and Elizabeth Nancy 
Bailev-Rice, who were among the early emigrants from 
Virginia and North Carolina to Kentucky. Slie was born 
in Lawrence County, Kentucky. Xovember 7, 1827, and 



56 * THE KELLY CLAN. 



died in Paris. Kentucky. March 14, 1900. Siie was ever 
ready to share his trials as well as his triumphs, and in 
after years, left to journey on alone, "Aunt Mary" cherished 
his memory with sacred tenderness, speaking of him as one 
would of a choice spirit, that had early subdued the things 
of time and sense, and risen to higher achievement. Chil- 
dren came to bless their union, and together they trod the 
upward pathway that "shineth more and more unto the 
perfect day." 

A consecrated man, he was his ]\Iaster"s own. and. ere 
his work seemed half accomplished, he was called to lay 
down the warrior's armor. He had occupied many ad- 
vantageous posts in the Kentucky conference, but the Cap- 
tain of the Lord's host had need of lum in other fields. 

His memoir is taken from the General minutes of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South: 

"Rev. Sanuiel Kelly was born March 2. 1823: joined the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in the iith, and was con- 
verted in the 13th year of his age. Joined tlie Kentucky 
conference at Maysville, September. 1841. 

"Tn 1842 he traveled the Greensburg circuit; in 1843 the 
Little Sandy circuit. Tn September of this year he was 
ordained deacon l^y nishoj) Morris at Louisville, and re- 
turned to the same work. 

"In the Spring of '45 he was married to Miss ^Lu-y Jane 
Rice, of Carter County, Kentucky. In the Fall of the 
same vear lie was ordaincMJ elder b\- liislio]) Soule. at I'ran!-;- 
fort, and a])poinlc'<l to thi,' lUirlington circuit: in 1846 to 
the I'lrniingsburg circuit, remaining two years. In 1848 
the Western X'irginia conference was organized and lie was 
ap])ointed to the Greencastle district, remaining four years: 
then to the Parkersbtu-g district, fotu* \ears. Tn 1856 and 
'57 he was stationed in 1 'arkersl)urg: in 1858 he was sta- 
tioned in Lewisburg, X'irginia, and in 1859 in Charleston. 
Virginia. Tn i860 again stationed in i'arkersburg. but at 
the end of nine nioiuhs. on account of troubles growing 
out of ihi' (ivil War. ;md the health ot' his wife, he remo\-ed 



A FAMILY OF PREACHERS. 57 

to Carter County. Kentucky, where he remained eighteen 
months. In 1862 he transferred to the Kentucky confer- 
ence and was appointed to Cynthiana, where he remained 
two years, and where he finished his useful ministerial 
career. 

"In 1854 he represented the West \'irginia conference in 
the General conference held in Columbtts, (ieorgia: and 
again in the General conference at Xashville, Tennessee, 
in 1858. 

"Samuel Kelly was distinguished for intellectual vigor 
and self-reliance. He had trained his mind to close thought 
and stored it with varied and accurate knowledge, lie he- 
came the center of every social group that he entered. He 
made a profound impression as a preacher in the com- 
munities where he resided." 

The surviving children of Samuel Kelly are Rev. Gilby 
Campbell Kelly, D. D., a minister of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South, pastor of Tulip-Street Church, Xash- 
ville. Tennessee; Mrs. Florence Leslie Lockhart, Paris. 
Kentucky; Samuel Rice Kelly, Minorsville. Scott County. 
Kentucky, and Mrs. \irginia Mehagan, Chicago. Illinois. 

The mantle of Rev. Samuel Kelly fell upon his eldest son. 
Like his father, with all his powers consecrated. Rev. Gilby 
C. Kelly has upheld the standard of the Cross in many of 
the principal cities within the bounds of the Kentucky, 
Alabama and Tennessee conferences. 

A visit to his home nineteen years ago revealed a char- 
acter at once heroic and tender; devoted to a high pur])i)se 
and w^arm with human sympathy. Himself and lovely wife 
are held in fond remembrance. He has six daughters- 
one in the better land. The eldest, Mrs. W. E. Graves lives 
in THrmingham. Alabama. 

Mrs. Lockhart has three daughters, the eldest in the 
Woman's College at Baltimore; Afrs. Lockhart has visited 
Mrginia looking u]) the antecedents of the Kellvs. Mrs. 
Mehagan has two sons, and Sanuiel Kelly has three chil- 
dren. 



58 THE KELLY CLAN. 



The following sketch of Rev. Gilby C. Kelly is taken 
from The Golden Rule, ofHcial organ of the Christian En- 
deavor Society: 

"Rev. Gilby C. Kelly, D. D., is one of the earliest and 
truest advocates of the Christian Endeavor Society in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. South. Dr. Kelly comes, on 
his father's side, of a family of preachers. Samuel Kelly, 
his father, was an able and prominent minister of the Meth- 
odist Church, who died in the prime of a vigorous man- 
hood while the subject of this sketch was yet a child. Three 
of his father's brothers were preachers, and two of his 
father's sisters married preachers. The Kellys were ]Metho- 
dists in Mrginia, whence they moved to Kentucky in 1797. 
After his father's death, his mother located with her chil- 
dren at Millersburg, Kentucky, then the seat of the educa- 
tional institutions of the Kentucky conference. Here Dr. 
Kellv grew to manhood, graduating from Kentucky W'es- 
leyan College in 1870. From his earliest appearance at 
scliool his oratorical gifts were marked, and all through 
his college davs no one could draw so many people from 
their homes and business as "Gilby," as he was familiarly 
called. He joined the Kentucky conference the Fall suc- 
ceeding his graduation, before he was 19 years old. From 
his early childhood the impression prevailed among the 
friends of the family that he would become a preacher, and 
he himself shared the impression, and never had any other 
aml)iii(in. Me has srrved tlie lull i)astoral term m leading 
cliurelies in Kentuckv. Without exceptiiMi his ministry as 
a pastt)r has been successful, and in several churches it has 
been l)rilliant. It was while he was pastor of the Broad- 
wav Methodist Episcopal Church of Louisville, the strong- 
est and largest of his denomination in the state, and among 
the most im])ort;Lnl in llie South, that his attention was 
hrst drawn to the Christian Endeavor Society. He quickly 
perceived its merits. a]id encouraged his young people to 
organize tluni>elve> into a society, possibly the first in the 
di'Moniinalion. 1 )r. I\rll\ advocates the enlargeniriU of ihe 
ICpwortli League into I'.pworth Leagues of Cln-istian h.n- 



A FAMILY Ol'" PREACHERS. 



59 



(leavor. He has contributed an ariicle on the subject lO 
Bishop O. P. Fitzgerald's "Kpworlh lUjok."' I )r. Kelly is 
a thinker, and shows the fact in his preaching. He does 
not follow in beaten tracks the leadership of others, but 
dares to reach his own conclusions, and state them. He is 
a leader, in the best sense of the word, without being a 
disputant, and withciut giving offense to others who differ 
from him. A quiet, polished gentleman, just entering the 
prime of life, a man of honest purpose, and a strong, vigor- 
ous preacher — such is Dr. Oilby C. Kelly. He is indeed a 
worthv representative of his denomination on the board of 
trustees of the United Societv of Christian Endeavor." 




TKe Tolling o/ tHe Bells. 



SEPTEMBER 14, I901. 

Oh, the sorrow and the shame! 
Oh, the horror and the blame! 

'Tis a melancholy night 
In the land of freedom fair. 
Oh, the tolling of the bells! 
Oh, the tolling of a nation's tearful bells! 

Tolling, tolling, tolling 

On the startled, starless air, 
Waking by their mournful numbers 
Millions from disordered slumbers : 

They confirm a people's fears, 

Start afresh a people's tears 
As they toll, toll, toll, 
Sobbing like a breaking soul, 
Our President is dead. 

Oh, the cruelty of hate! 
Oh, the wantonness of hate! 

'Tis a melancholy night 
In the land of freedom fair. 
Oh, the tolling of the bells! 
Oh, the question of the people's plaintive bells! 

Tolling, tolling, tolling 

On the startled, starless air. 
He was rooted in the people, 
lie upgrew among the people. 
Twice was chosen by the i^eople, 
He was servant of the people, 

He was stainless as a star, 

Seeking peace, benign in war. 

Statesman wise and good of will, 

Lover, friend unmixed with ill, 

Facing treason, .saintly still — 



THE TOLLING OF TIIK BELLS. 6r 



Tremblingly they cry 

Why, oh, why, 
Was he foully marked to die? 

As they toll, toll, toll, 

Sobbing like a breaking soul, 
Our Presidefii is dead. 



Oh, the anguish of the pain ! 
Oh, the blackness of the stain ! 

'Tis a melancholy night 

In the land of freedom fair. 
Oh, the tolling of the bells! 
Oh, the challenge of the patriotic bells! 

Tolling, tolling, tolling. 
On the startled, starless air. 
By their wailing, wrathful numbers. 
They would wake the watch that slumbers : 

They would fire a people's mood 

To expel the direful brood, 
As they toll, toll, toll, 
Sobbing like a breaking soul. 
Our President is dead. 

GiLBY C. Kelly, in yashville Atnerican. 



CHAPTER X 



O t Ker Kelly s 




He uiakcth liini fa^iiilies like a flock. 

— PSA. cvil :4i. 



YRENE, second daughter of Samuel and 
Nancy Kelly, was born March 6. 1816. She 
was married to Hardin Newell, and had 
eleven children, three of whom were living 
at a recent date. The eldest. Richard, 
served his country in the Civil War. and at its close, with 
his brother McKendree, settled in Kansas. Their address 
is Stafford, that state. Mrs. Martha Baugh. the oidy living 
daughter, resides in Xehraska. 

Jane Newell Young, eldest daughter of Cyrcnc Kelly 
died some years ago, leaving a large family in and about 
Highland. Kentucky. They are children of Henderson 
Young, of that place. Mrs. Young was a lovely Christian 
character. 

Tlie Pacific Coast j^iilgrinis x'isited the family of licndcr- 
son \'i)ung in 1882, and found them a hospitable and 
genial people. 

-If. :'; % ;i: ^ 



St'n.'i !\ell\. will I i-Miiu'S next to C\vrene. was born May 
25, iXiS; niarrird |(isiah (indbew an itinerant ]")rcach<,T. in 
l\enluck\. .iiiil w;i> \\\c mother of ten clnldren. 

The famih mo\ cd to ( )iterville. Missouri, where, in 1882. 
she still lived in tlu' lull vigor of womanhood; she has since 
biHii called awa\. 



OTHER KKI.I.YS. 63 



Four of her sons, William Clinton, luiiory, Samuel and 
Joseph, are preachers; some of these have been connected 
with educational institutions. One of the sons was for 
years editor of the Pacific Methodist, published at Santa 
Rosa, California. Milton is a physician; and Thomas, a 
farmer, was livino- in Florida when last heard from. Two 
daughters, Mrs. Sarah Shy and Mrs. Maggie Tower, both 
with families, live near C3tterville, Missouri. 

'K 'K 'K '(^ ijc 

Gilmore Kelly was born May 27, 1820, at the "old Ken- 
tucky home," on Clifty Creek, where ah Sanuiel Kelly's 
children were born. He married Mary Ann "Burns, a sister 
of Jane Burns, who was the mother of rive cliftdren, four 
of whom are still with us. Mrs. Jane KeHx-Xew has five 
living children: Frank (married), in the employ of the West- 
ern Union Telegraph Company in Portland; Joseph. 
George, Kate, a teacher; Jennie, and Gladys. 

Samuel Gilby, the oldest son of Gilmore Kelly, has a 
daughter and son; Mrs. Nellie Uell, who has one daughter, 
and Alfred, in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph 
Company in California. 

Emmet and Emerson, younger sons of Gilmore Kellv, 
are twins, and each has a family; Emmet one d'aughter. 
Mary, and one son; and Emerson a son and daughter. 

Gilmore Kelly had a happy, genial temper, which made 
him many friends; full of fun and fn^lic, the young people 
were certain of a good time when he was present. He was 
building a barn for his brother; his niece, a young woman, 
had just finished a bright new dress, about which he had 
teased her in connection with the name of a young man 
who was paying her his attentions, calling it her wedding 
dress. One morning he appeared on the roof of the barn, 
hanunering away as if for a wager, with the gay garnieiil 
wrapped abotU his person. 



64 THE KELLY CLAN. 



As he drew near the borderland his nature deepened and 
broadened as if ripening for the iniseen. A few days be- 
fore his departure he went to a revival meeting and gave 
loving admonition to the seekers of religion, from Romans 
x:8-io, supplementing it with his own experience. His talk 
on that occasion will long be remembered. 

His stalwart frame seemed to defy disease; and Nature 
was kind to him. Sitting one evening at his fireside with 
his wife, he fell from his chair and was gone. His wife fol- 
lowed him in a vear. 



5JC <^ "T^ "T^ •■(^ 

At Nancy Kelly's death the younger children foun<l 
homes with married sisters. 

Rachel never marrried. She lived in the home of Dr. 
Newell, her brother-in-law, and upon the death of Cyrene 
Newell she went to her sister Sena Godbe>-, in Alissouri, 
where she remained until called from earth A])ril 16. 1881. 
She was an amiable woman, and her iiieniury is fondly 
cherished. 

Talitha went to live with 'rem])erance Jones, subsequenily 
niarr\ini4 lliomas, a brother of Aden Jones. 

Talitlia l\ell\' was a livelw s])riglnl}- girl, and annised 
her ne])he\\s and ineces l)y narrating stories. She was said 
to I)e the best-looking girl in tlie fanuly. Care sat 1 ghlly 
upon her voung shoulckrs. hut all too soon she became 
inured to its burden. W'lirn Talitlia was 14 years ohl lu-r 
mother died, and as marriage, ai)lly expressed by one who 
lived in those times, was "the one significant fact of a life- 
time, lo ])(■ consunuualed as s])eedily as possible," hers 
toid< place soon after. At llu- age of _\^ she died, leaving 
foin- children. "Tonuuy"' Jones aftrrward married Fdiza- 
brth .\ew(.'l, a --ister ol' 1 )r. Xewrl, and tlu' I'annly nio\(,-d 
to Kansas, whrrr tlu- fathrr dird in 1S90. 



OTHKR KELLY'S. 65 



Talitha Kelly Jones' eldest claui;iiter, Mary, married lulin 
Stevens, and died leaving- seven children; Morris, Quincy, 
Arthur, Bert, Perry, Albert Kelly, and Talitha. Morris is 
married, and, with Arthur and Talitha, lives in Colorado; 
Quincy and Perry have families, and they, with Bert and 
Albert Kelly, are located at \'inland. Kansas. 

Pamelia, the second daughter, married Mr. Sturdw lives 
at V'inland, and has a daughter and son, Amarillis and 
Lemuel. 

Clinton Kelly Jones is a Methodist minister, is married, 
and lives at Aurora, Madison County, Arkansas. 

Nancy E. Jones married Daniel Melton, lives near her 
brother and has four children: ( )na, ( )mi. ( )tho and Clin- 
ton. Ona, Nancy's oldest son, is a newspaper correspon- 
dent, at present traveling in the Congo Free State. Dur- 
ing the Spanish-American War he was sent to Cuba by 
the New York Herald, was taken prisoner and placed in 
Morro Castle, where he was confined for eighteen months, 
when he was granted a pardon by the Queen. Upon his 
return his experiences furnished material for a series of 
lectures which he gave throughout the Eastern States. 



* 



With one exception the life of each of Samuel Kelly's 
children has been briefly told. In many respects it was a 
remarkable family; a conspicuous trait was the fraternal, 
loving spirit that characterized their intercourse with one 
another; they invariably used the endearing title of 
"brother" or "sister" when speaking of or to each other. 
"They were lovely and pleasant in their lives," and cher- 
ished the same confident ho])e of an innnortal lite beyond 
the confines of earth. 

There remains one brother, Thomas Kelly, residing at 
North Yakima, Washington, in his ■/;^<\ year. 

Thomas was born b'cbruary 2^^. i.S2(j. and was \2 year.s 



66 THE KELLY CLAN. 

old at the time of his mother's death; at which event he 
went to live with his sister, Sena Godbey, where he made 
himself useful working in the garden and in other ways 
helping the family in his brother-in-law's absence on the 
circuit. He became a Christian when lo years old, and 
when he was 15 took his turn in conducting family worship. 

He lived for awhile at his brother Gilby's. and was pres- 
ent at the latter's death. He came to Oregon in 1848, and 
in 1853 was united in marriage to Christina Sunderland, 
and settled on a farm near Portland. 

In 1 87 1 he removed to his present home; his wife is still 
with him. 

Of a large family there are left to him seven children, 
twenty-three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren; 
twelve have passed beyond. 

Mrs. Martha C)gburn has been married twice. Her chil- 
dren are: Milton, Phoebe, Lulu and Ina. of the name Per- 
kins; William, Edward, John and George, of the name 
Ogburn. Phoebe is Mrs. France, and has two children; 
Mrs. Lulu Iverson has two, and ]\Irs. Lia Waite has one. 

Mrs. Sena Ritter has four children: Lillie, Herbert, 
Vernie and Claud. 

Mrs. Lura Parrish has one living child — Norwood. 
Tliomas, junior, died two years ago. leaving three chil- 
dren, h'liza. Agnes and Earl. 

Henr\ Harrison has one daughter. Elma, and two sons, 
.Aden and Lester. 

Mrs. Minnie Stevens has a family of three. Pearl, Ray 
and Mamie; and Mrs. Nannie Bolton has a daughter and 
son, Theresa and Asa. \\'ilbtu- Kelly is at home with his 
father. 

All of Thomas Kelly's descendants live near him. He is 
in tt)leral)le health, and talks of making a visit to the scenes 
of his earl\- \outh in Kentuckx'. 



* 



OTHER KKLLYS. 67 



Isaac Kelly, who conies next in order in the familv of 
the original Thomas Kelly, was a Methodist local preacher 
and farmer. He married a Miss Martin, and ihey had a 
son, Greenup, who was a member of the Indiana confer- 
ence. After the death of Mrs. Martin-Kelly, Isaac married 
a Miss Berry, and their children settled near Indianapolis. 
A few years ago there was a Dr. Kelly at Xonh Yakima, 
who is supposed to belong to this famih-. 

-^ ^'^ »'- vl>. .'. 

^r* '»- '',•* 'i^ -> 

Elias Kell\- lives across Clifty Creek from his brother 
Samuel, and the boy cousins had some good times to- 
gether; from there he removed to Wayne County, where 
he died. He had seven sons and four daughters. His 
sons were Tolbert, Peter, John, Isaac, Elias. James and 
Amaziah. The daughters' names were Louisa, Rebecca. 
Ann and Jane. 

Tolbert Kelly, eldest son of Elias, went to Missouri, and 
when Gilmore Kelly contemplated a removal to Oregon, 
he prepared to emigrate with him; but Tolbert's children 
took the measles, and the tri]) was postponed. In a few 
years Tolbert died, and in 1859 the family came to Oregon 
and settled at Corvallis. 

The living representatives of this fanuly are Mrs. Re- 
becca Jane Fawcett, wife of Mr. Fawcett. liailiff for the 
County Commissioners, of Portland; Elias l\ell\-, of Alamo. 
Oregon, who has one son and two daughters; Tolbert 
Kelly, of Geiser, Oregon, and Mrs. Ami lleltzell, of 
Sprague, Washington, who has five living children. Mrs. 
P'awcett's children are: Florence. Thomas K., Xellie, Annie 
and Georgia. Xellie F"awcett is a teacher in Portland, and 
historian of the Kelly clan. Mrs. Fawcett has buried tw(» 
children. Tolbert Kelly's children who have died are Mrs. 
Nancy Ball, who has left three children; Thi)ma> K., ami 
Gilmore. 

Elias Kelly, fifth son of Elias Kelly, had a large family; 
he emio-rated to Georiiia and died there. 



68 THE KELLY CLAN. 



James, the sixth son, lives in Kansas, and has a lari^e 
family. 

Amaziah j.. seventh son of Elias Kelly, lives in Steuben- 
ville, Kentucky; he is in his 75th year. He has foin" daugh- 
ters: Emma. Nettie. EHzabeth and Nancy; the last two 
are twins. Elizabeth married a Mr. Wallace, and they live 
in Lebanon, Tennessee; Nancy married J. C. Dodson, of 
Steuben ville, Kentucky. Emma is making a collection of 
photographs of her Kelly relatives. 

;K H- -K ^ '^ 

Of the family of Abijah Kelly, sixth son of Thomas 
Kellv. who moved to Tennessee and died in that state, we 
have knowledge of two sons and four daughters. 

The sons, Franklin and John, have left large famiHes of 
children and grandchildren at Gainsboro and (iranville, 
Tennessee, anrl are reported l)y the relatives at Steuben- 
ville as being a prosperous people. A grandson of John 
Kelly is in the Tennessee Legislature. Both Franklin and 
John Kelly have died recentlv. 

Helena Kellv married a Mr. Miller; another daughter 
was Mrs. William I'utty, and Sarah married a man by the 
name of Davis. Elizabeth was the name of another 
daughter. 

Of the original Thomas Krll\"s three daughters, Mo]l\- 
married Matthew Hickson, and they went to Indiana, ller 
children were Milton and Wesley, who married sisters l)y 
the name of Moore; and Talitha, who was wedded to Sam- 
uel Camp. 

Leah m;irried Robin Smith, and they removed to Ohio; 
and Kachel married, but of her family we are not informed. 



CHAPTER XI 



Unicle THotnas's Story. 




" IVe'll fake a cup of kitidness yet, 

For ail Id latig syne.'' 

— Burns. 



,HEN I was a little fellow." says Uncle 
Thomas Kelly, "we didn't wear shoes. The 
first pair of shoes I ever had was when T 
was lo years old; I chased a ground-hog to 
his hole, caught and skinned him. and 
tanned the hide, from which my mother made me a pair 
of shoes. A boy was not supposed to have shoes until lie 
could run down a ground-hog and get his hide. Even m 
the snow we went barefoot. When a yoimg fellow couM 
have 'store shoes,' he was getting up in the world. 

"Mv grown-up sisters carried their shoes in the hands 
to church, and put them on just before they got there. 

"I first went to school to brother Clinton, at Monn*: 
Zion schoolhouse. I crawled under the i)uncheon-tloor and 
found a hole with water in it. which 1 announced to the 
school in a loud voice, when 1 received my first instruc- 
tion in keeping quiet. I took my first lessons from a copy 
of the Western Christian Advocate. 

"It was the custom for the teacher to give the scholars 
a treat of apples at Christmas-time. When the day cam<' 
round the l)ig boys were to keej) the teacher oul. and if 
he could get inside the schoolhouse and sta\-. the treat was 
of¥. Once when Solomon Xewell was teacher, he g^n m 



JO THE KELLY CLAN. 



and they pur him out and tried to keep him out. I cut the 
rope, and they chased him through the woods for half a 
day before he would give up. If any one passing the 
schoolhouse would call out, 'School butter!' that was the 
signal for the whole school to rush pell-mell from the 
house and chase the challenger until he was tired out, when 
he would have to stand treat. 

"There was a slit in the wall, and in this was inserted a 
long board which served as a wTiting desk. When a man 
wanted to get a school he went around with a paper and 
got all the signers he could. His hand-write served as 
credentials, and any old vacant house was good enough 
for a schoolhouse. 

"We produced nearly everything we consumed. My 
mother raised Hax, from which she made yards and yards 
of linen. When the flax was ripe, it was pulled and laid 
away in a damp place until the soft parts had decayed, 
when it went through various processes, one of which was 
'hackling' — drawing the stems through a sort of comb 
until nothing was left but the fiber. 

"In the evening she would sit b\- the fire and 'hackle' 
flax. The long, smooth threads made fine cloth, and the 
short fiber went into 'tow-linen.' which was the material out 
of which our shirts were made. A\'e little fellows wore a 
tow-linen shirt, and little else, in the Summer time; it was 
a long garment, reaching half way below the knees. The 
linen was spread on the hillside back of the house to bleach, 
and we had to wet it down twice every day. I remember 
my mother had lOO yards of this nice white linen on hand 
at one time, which she sold at the store in Somerset and 
bought necessities for the famil\-. She sjiun anil wove wool 
and made our clothing. 

"'Once a year the shoemaker came round, and then it 
wouUl be 'peg, peg,' from morning till night. 

"We raised i)lenly of corn, some wheal, and \egetables, 
and always had sweet ])oiatoes. W'e had cornbread the 
vear round, but if wc had llour cnougli for biscuit on .^un- 



UNCLE Thomas's story. 71 

dav morning' we were doing- well. I renieniher going into 
the kitchen and asking: 'Mammy, are we going to have 
wheat biscuit for l)rcakfast?' There was (|iiite a space in 
the field that was nearly level rock, and there ihe wheat 
was threshed out with a tlail. To winudw it, two of the 
boys took hold of a sheet, one at each end. and made wind 
by a swinging motion; another poured the wheat from a 
vessel held high as he could, and the chaff was blown away. 

"Sometimes the wheat had so much wec\'il that the flour 
was clammy and looked gray; but there was no way to 
clean it. The land was poor and full of rock; five or six 
bushels of wheat to the acre was a good cro]). We planted 
a 'patch" for three or four years, then left it to grow up 
to briars and tried another. 

"When a young couple began life for themselves, if they 
had a good horse, two or three sheep, and a sow and pigs, 
they had a good outfit. 

"When they built the new house, the old cabin was used 
for a kitchen; we boys slept in the upper story, and mother 
kept her loom up there. 

"My father stififered a great deal the latter part of his 
life with asthma; we called it phthisic. He used Indian 
turnip to make his breathing easier, and white poppy to 
make the Indian turnip bearable. The latter was so strong 
it would make the tears run down your face. Once wc 
children played in the creek when mother had told us not 
to, and when we saw brother Sam coming we hid in a cave 
in the clif¥. He found us out, Init said he wouldn't tell if 
we would eat some Indian turnip. We agreed, and each 
took a big mouthful. It began to burn like fire, and we ran 
home to mother, bawling at the top of our voices. She 
thought we had been punished enough for that time. 

"My father was a very tender-hearted man. He some- 
times killed game for meat, but he was averse to taking 
life. ( )nce he came upon a bear's cub, and wounded it. The 
cub rolled over and began to moan in the most piteous 
wav; and to his soft heart the sounds shaped themselves 



72 THE KELLY CLAX. 



into words: 'O Lord! U Lord!" He said it seemed like 
it was j)raying, and it so affected him that he resolved never 
to kill another. 

"The cub's moans hrouijht the enraged mother in short 
order. His gun was empty, and there seemed no chance 
for his life. Near by was one of those steep bluffs so com- 
mon in that countr\. Without a moment to spare he 
swung himself over the ])luff b\- some bushes, and there he 
hung imtil the bear tired out and went off. 

"No boy could have loved his uKither more than T, and 
after father died I always slept with her. She was strong 
and vigorous, and never seemed to be sick. 

"Had it not been for an accident she might be alive now. 
as her people were long-lived. Her grandfather lived to 
be 130 years old; her mother was 112 years old in 1842, 
when she left Kentucky with her youngest son for Missouri. 
We never heard what became of her. Her son treated her 
badly; she used to live with us, and my mother tried to keep 
her, I)ut she would go back to him. 

"Mother was trying to hive some bees, when they 
swarmed al)out her. She threw her a])r()n »)\er her head 
and ran; the aslT-hopper was in her wa\'. and she stuml)led 
against it, breaking a rib. It luiri lier for a while and then 
seemed to heal up: ])ut it gathered inside. Xo one seemed 
to know wliai to do. ."^he sufferetl a good deal, and they 
talked of lancing it, but nothing was done. i'inall\- it broke 
inlernalK'. and she l^ecame unconscious and died in a .-h(M"t 
time, in great suffering. 

"W JK'n she died the famil\- was broken up. and 1 went 
to li\c with Sister Sena. She was a good woman and tlid 
everything she could to helj) along. 

"When we were on the circuit she made lials to sell. 
Tliey were of double straw — a Hax inside of a wheat straw, 
and were \er\- dnra])le. though hea\y. We always wore 
home-made hats. 

■■|n 1S43 we went to the Somerset circuit ;uid WwA on 



UNCLE THOMAS'S STORV. 73 

the old place. Josiah (iodbey bought the place — 200 acres 
— for $200. I planted some spruce and balni-of-Gilead trees 
on the slope of the hill above the spring. The last thing I 
did before leaving there was t(j go and look at my trees, 
and the}' looked like they wouldn't live; I am glad to know 
thev lived and made a fine grove. 

"In 1846 I started to walk from Somerset to Covington. 
where brother Ciilby lived. I was five days on the road. 
One dav I passed two men in the woods at work, and one 
of them hailed me: 'Are you a brother of (lilby Kell\?" 
'Yes,' I answered; I had never seen the man l)efore. 

" "Well, I'd rather listen to a hundred Iiounds baying than 
to hear him preach.' 

"In the Spring I went back that way and saw the same 
man, and he recognized me and apologized for his rough 
speech. 

"I went to Brother Gilby's and stayed there that Winter. 
He had several men hired to cut up the timber on his place. 
He took what we called 'spotted fever' — spinal meningitis — 
but didn't seem to be very sick. He was sitting up in bed. 
quite cheerful; but the doctors thotight he ought to be 
'cupped' ; so they applied their cupping glasses to the back 
of his neck. They had no more than gone when he called 
his wife and said: 'We nnist part; and this has done it.' 
putting his hand to the back of his head. Looking at her 
he said calmly: 'Have no fear.' His face began to turn 
purple and he died in a little while. I never saw as large a 
funeral. I was taken in the church with the same disease, 
fell over and had to be carried out. As soon as I got well 
I started for Green County, wdiere Brother Clinton was. and 
we got ready to come to Oregon." 



* 



74 THE KELLY CLAN. 



The Kellys on the Pacific Coast have set apart the last 
Saturday in June as a day for the annual reunion of all the 
families of the clan. The officers are: Plympton Kelly, 
chief; Sarah Kelly-Kern, priestess; Agnes Plummer. keeper 
of the records; Agnes Kelly, assistant; Harold Shaver, 
treasurer; Nellie Fawcett. historian; Mattie Kelly-Plummer, 
Emily Kelly-Shaver and Helen Kelly Manley, committee of 
arrangements. 

The reunion is held at the home of some one of the mem- 
bers, and early in the forenoon of the appointed day the 
crowds begin to arrive, and lively greetings and congratula- 
tions are the order of the day. As many have not met for a 
year, and some are there for the first time, mutual inc]uiries 
into the welfare of each and making the acquaintance of rel- 
atives never seen before fill u]) the hours until noon. 

The place of meeting has been selected with a view to 
accommodate all who may come; the committee of arrange- 
ments has been looking after the comfort of the inner man, 
and long tables spread under arching trees are laden with 
viands prepared by the army of grandmothers, aunts and 
cousins ; and the next hour is given to the enjoyment of the 
different styles of cookery, and discussing the changes that 
have taken place in the year. Letters are read from absent 
ones, toasts and responses furnish a fitting close to the 
banquet, and reminiscence and incident — recalling old 
rimes in far-off Kentucky and the long, lone journey across 
the ])lains — fill up the tlying miinites. Before one is aware, 
the swift-footed hours have passed, the slow-lingering sun 
seems loth to close the happy scene; families are rounded 
up. belongings gathered together and good-byes given, 
with ilif oft-repeated charge, "Be sure and come next 
year." 

( )n the last Saturda\- in June. 1901. the reunion was held 
on the grounds of Plympton Kelly, Jr.. who lives near Ken- 
ilworth. a sul)urb of Portland. The relatives present num- 
bered t/), with several invited guests. Hon. J. F. Caples. 
of Portland, an -ild-iinie friend of Rev. Clinton Kelly, was 



UNCLE THOMAS'S STORY. 75 



the guest of honor on this occasion, and gave some pleas- 
ing incidents of his acquaintanceship with "Father Kelly.'' 
An incident was narrated by one of the guests present, as 
follows: "I remember a class meeting in which Father 
Kelly was the leader, and 1 was one of the participants. [ 
was often in Father Kelly's class-meetings, but this one I 
shall never forget. It came my turn to speak, and I gave 
my humble testimony, as best I could, when he replied: 
'Brother, you remind me of a son of mine. I sometimes say 
to my son: "The devil's got a mortgage on you, and if you 
don't watch out, the first thing you know he'll foreclose"; 
and so I say to you, brother." 

"Had it been any other than Father Kelly who said that 
I couldn't have stood it. but I had such perfect confidence 
in the man that I took it in the spirit in which he intended 
I should take it, and it did me good. 

"A worthy friend of mine who had sat in legislative halls 
was called upon to speak. He arose and said his experience 
was best svimmed up in the lines: 



"Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; 
Prone to leave the God I love,' 



and then sat down. Father Kelly made the brief but em- 
phatic reply: 'I have known for a long time, brother, that 
that was your situation; now, the best thing you can do for 
your soul's sake is to get out of that just as quick as you 
can.' " 

There are some stalwart specimens of Kelly stock aI)out 
Portland and elsewhere in Oregon— massive, broad-shoul- 
dered six-footers, that remind one of giant stories of his 
childhood. A generation of wrestling with the monarchs of 
the woods in the breezy air of the West has pretty thor- 
oug-hlv eliminated the "long. lean, lank" Kentucky type. 
and produced a race that bids fair to be a credu to civiliza- 
tion. Alanv of the bovs attain to six feet before they have 



76 THE KELLV CLAN. 



passed their sixteenth year, although un<ler such rapid 
growth and consequent strain some have succunil^ed. 

The Kellys have usuaUy followed farming, and being a 
plain, practical people, caring little for show, above pre- 
tense, and characterized by honest integrit\ and fair-deal- 
ing, they have surrounded themselves with tlie comforts 
of life without caring to amass w^ealth. Only occasionally 
has one left these humble walks to follow a i:)rofessional 
life, though many have been found in the ministry, a call- 
ing in which the\' have given evidence of marked ability. 
Feeling a benevolent interest in their fellow-beings anil 
a laudable desire to see others succeed as well as them- 
selves, they have gained the respect of their kind and made 
the world better for having lived in it. 




ADDENDA. 



Since this story has been placed in type, information of 
great interest to the family has been received, which will 
be inserted here: 

The children of (iill)y Campljcll Ivelly and Nannie Car- 
roll Kellv are Alary Yandell Kelly Graves. Elizabeth Kelly, 
IHorence Leslie Kelly. Alfie Kelly. A'irginia Kelly, and 
Xannine Kellv. The children of George Catlett Lockhart 
and Morence Leslie Kelly Lockhart arc Mary Hearne 
Lockhart, Sallie Catlett Lockhart. and 1-dorence Kelly 
Lockhart. The children of Samnel Rice Kelly and Sarah 
Yarbrough Kelly are Samuel Spencer Kelly. ALary Eliza- 
beth Kelly and John Kelly. The children of Charles Her- 
bert Mehagan and Mary Virginia Kelly Mehagan are Gilby 
Kelly Mehagan and Charles Lockhart Mehagan. 

Mrs. Elorence Kelly Lockhart. elder daughter of Rev. 
Samuel Kellv. says: "I brouglu my daughters here (Rol- 
lins. \'a.) in the fall of 1900. and i)laced them in school; 
and my surprise was very great to find 1 was only about 
fifteeen miles from Fincastle, Botetourt Conntv. where, ac- 
cording to my understanding, (h-andfather Kelly was born. 
1 remained at HoUins Institute all of last winter, returntd 
to Kentucky for the summer, but am here again for another 
winter with the girls. It is my i)uri)ose to go to Fincastle 
before I leave here. 1 want to breathe the same atmosphere 
of mv ancestors, if nothing more. 1 am satisfied it will 
have influence with our children to i)reserve as sacred the 
names thev bear. 1 believe in family name and ])ride, and 
have alwavs felt that our richest inheritance was our godly 
parentage. 



78 



THE KELLY CLAN. 



" You may be interested in knowing that X'irgie 
(Mrs. \'irginia Kelly Alehagan) has in her possession a 
copy of the Kelly coat-of-arms, as used by the clan in Ire- 
land (given below). In Joseph I. C. Clarke's poem on the 
blowing up of the Maine, the Irish Kelly's heraldic figure is 
represented as a 'Dunning-bred animal called an enfield. 
with the head of a fox, the mane of a horse, the chest of 
an elephant, the fore legs of an eagle, the body of a grey- 
hound and the tail of a lion. The escutcheon is a castle 
with a lion rampant on either side, and the motto, 'God is 
to me a strong tower." The fatal battle of Aughrim, fought 
on their property in the County Galway, was the doom of 
the Kellys, and they were scattered over Europe, brave sol- 
diers, all of them.' " 




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